Dealing with Companies and Apps that Support Homosexuals

Homosexuality is a major sin in Islam

Undoubtedly doing the deed of the people of Lut is grave wrongdoing and a major sin , and is one of the most abhorrent of sins. Allah destroyed the people of Lut (peace be upon him) with various kinds of terrifying punishment for persisting in their transgression and abhorrent deeds.

We have previously discussed that in several answers, such as 38622  , 5177  and 27176  .

It is prohibited to help in that grave evil deed or to take part in spreading it or supporting those who do it by lending material or moral support, because that comes under the heading of spreading mischief, evildoing and immorality in the land, which is one of the causes of doom, punishment and destruction for nations, communities and individuals.

Allah, may He be Exalted, has forbidden cooperating in evil, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.} [Al-Ma’idah 5:2]

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stated that the one who shows people the way to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who act upon it. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “…And whoever calls others to misguidance will have a burden of sin like that of those who follow it, without it detracting from their burden in the slightest.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2647)

Dealing with companies and apps that support homosexuals

With regard to the ruling on dealing with companies and apps that support homosexuals and help them with their issues, this is subject to the principles of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. Hence we may say:

If not dealing with them will achieve the purpose of deterring these companies from supporting evil, or it will make known the evil that the company is committing, which is their support of homosexuals, and denouncing them for that and making their actions known to people, then we must refrain from buying from these companies and refuse to deal with them, in fulfillment of the duty to forbid what is wrong, on the one hand; and in open disavowal of the evils of homosexuals which have become so widespread, as well as the evils of the companies who are cooperating with and helping the enemies of Islam, and by way of training ourselves to strive in supporting Islam and the laws of Allah, and to resist what is contrary to those laws, on the other hand.

Abu Al-Wafa’ ibn `Aqil Al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“If you want to know how much respect the people of a certain era have for Islam, then do not look at the crowds of people who go to the mosques, or the noise they make when raising their voices in the Talbiyah; rather look at the extent to which they go along with the enemies of Islam. Ibn Ar-Rawandi and Al-Ma`arri (may the curses of Allah be upon them) lived all their lives writing prose and poetry [criticizing Islam]. The former described Islam as a myth, and Al-Ma`arri said (in verse): “They recited falsehood and unsheathed their swords; they said, ‘We are telling the truth’ and we said, ‘Yes indeed.’”

What he meant by “falsehood” was the Book of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted. These [heretics] lived for many years, their graves were turned into shrines and their books were widely circulated, which indicates that religious zeal was weak in people’s hearts." (Al-Adab Ash-Shar`iyyah by Ibn Muflih,  1/237)

The prohibition on dealing with these companies is emphasized if there are alternatives to their products available from companies that are not known for supporting homosexuals. In that case boycotting them serves a clear purpose, without any harm or bad consequences resulting from it, so that is what must be done.

That is even more emphasized if their products are worthless and there is no point in having them or in being keen to buy them. There are many of these worthless products; in fact most of their products are harmful to physical or mental health, yet people rush to buy them like moths to a flame!

However, if a Muslim needs their product and cannot do without it – otherwise he will suffer harm or doing without it will be so difficult that it will cause him trouble – and there is no alternative to that product, then in this case he is not obliged to refrain from buying from that company or using its software, so long as the product is permissible in and of itself. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) dealt with the Jews, buying and selling, and his shield was held in pledge to a Jewish man, even though there is no sin worse than disbelief.

What one should do in this case is continue denouncing them by whatever means are possible, and whenever there are alternatives to their products and software, you should buy the alternative and boycott their products, and advise others to do likewise, because the benefit of boycotting will not bear fruit unless there is collective effort, for that is what will cause them financial loss and deter them and make them give up this wrongdoing, if they know that the boycott is connected to their evil actions. It will also deter others.

It is more important to encourage others, both individuals and groups, to take part in that and to take a stand against companies who support homosexuals with their wealth and by propagating the ideas of that trend, than to boycott companies who merely display their symbols and flags, but do not offer them any kind of financial support.

For more information on the ruling on buying and selling with the disbelievers and those among them who are actively hostile to the Muslims, please see the answer to question no. 20732  .

And Allah knows best.