What is the criterion for identifying the cross depicted on some clothing and goods so that it can be avoided, and is it obligatory to remove it even if it results in the damage of the item, and is it obligatory to remove the six-pointed star?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May Allah reward you with good. The types of crosses on clothing and goods have multiplied, so I do not know if there is a specific cross that must be removed. If this cross cannot be removed without damaging part of the item or all of the goods, and likewise regarding the six-pointed star, is it also obligatory to remove it, or what is the ruling?
The Shaykh : I say, may Allah bless you. First, we must know that it is a cross, because some people think some things are crosses when they are not.
The second thing is that we must know that it was placed there because it is a cross, not that it was placed there merely as a pattern on the garment. Because the Christians revere the cross, they would not make it a pattern on a garment; they place it out of respect. So both of these conditions are necessary.
If we verify that it is a cross, then it is obligatory to tear it, or at least it is a recommended practice (sunnah) to tear it. And we should boycott these garments. If we boycott them and the merchants do not benefit from them, they will also stop using them.
The same is said regarding the six-pointed star, which is said to be the symbol of the Jews. Its ruling is the same as the ruling of the cross, even though the Jews do not take it as an object of worship, but it is specific to them. Yes.
The questioner : But the crosses, O Shaykh, are of different types. Do you mean that every cross we are certain is a cross...
The Shaykh : We asked about it. We asked the Christians who became Muslims, and they said that the cross for us is the well-known cross, which consists of two lines, one horizontal and the other vertical, with the vertical line being longer on one side than the other.
We even asked them about the cross watch, which they call the cross watch. They said this is not intended to be a cross; it is only a symbol of the company. Because the cross for them, they say, is a long vertical line, and then a horizontal line where one side of the vertical line is longer than the other, because that is the one that was nailed.
Now, when a person is crucified, a wooden plank is placed for him, and a horizontal wooden plank is placed to support his hands. Is it possible for the plank placed for the hands to be in the middle? Yes, no, it is placed above. So we are in doubt about this one that was published two years ago in different shapes, and they said these are crosses. Yes.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And prayers and peace be upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and upon his family and all his Companions. It is known, O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, that...
The Shaykh : And also, the plus sign now, is it a cross? Is it a cross?
The questioner : It is a form of the cross.
The Shaykh : No, they do not say that. A Muslim man told me, who was a Christian, and he said this is what we have.
Also, previously there were buckets, the buckets used to raise water from the well. Did you notice that at the top there are handles, they call them handles, yes, meaning two pieces of wood, one horizontal and the other vertical. So the thing that is a cross is the one that was placed as a cross.
May Allah reward you with good. The types of crosses on clothing and goods have multiplied, so I do not know if there is a specific cross that must be removed. If this cross cannot be removed without damaging part of the item or all of the goods, and likewise regarding the six-pointed star, is it also obligatory to remove it, or what is the ruling?
The Shaykh : I say, may Allah bless you. First, we must know that it is a cross, because some people think some things are crosses when they are not.
The second thing is that we must know that it was placed there because it is a cross, not that it was placed there merely as a pattern on the garment. Because the Christians revere the cross, they would not make it a pattern on a garment; they place it out of respect. So both of these conditions are necessary.
If we verify that it is a cross, then it is obligatory to tear it, or at least it is a recommended practice (sunnah) to tear it. And we should boycott these garments. If we boycott them and the merchants do not benefit from them, they will also stop using them.
The same is said regarding the six-pointed star, which is said to be the symbol of the Jews. Its ruling is the same as the ruling of the cross, even though the Jews do not take it as an object of worship, but it is specific to them. Yes.
The questioner : But the crosses, O Shaykh, are of different types. Do you mean that every cross we are certain is a cross...
The Shaykh : We asked about it. We asked the Christians who became Muslims, and they said that the cross for us is the well-known cross, which consists of two lines, one horizontal and the other vertical, with the vertical line being longer on one side than the other.
We even asked them about the cross watch, which they call the cross watch. They said this is not intended to be a cross; it is only a symbol of the company. Because the cross for them, they say, is a long vertical line, and then a horizontal line where one side of the vertical line is longer than the other, because that is the one that was nailed.
Now, when a person is crucified, a wooden plank is placed for him, and a horizontal wooden plank is placed to support his hands. Is it possible for the plank placed for the hands to be in the middle? Yes, no, it is placed above. So we are in doubt about this one that was published two years ago in different shapes, and they said these are crosses. Yes.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And prayers and peace be upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and upon his family and all his Companions. It is known, O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, that...
The Shaykh : And also, the plus sign now, is it a cross? Is it a cross?
The questioner : It is a form of the cross.
The Shaykh : No, they do not say that. A Muslim man told me, who was a Christian, and he said this is what we have.
Also, previously there were buckets, the buckets used to raise water from the well. Did you notice that at the top there are handles, they call them handles, yes, meaning two pieces of wood, one horizontal and the other vertical. So the thing that is a cross is the one that was placed as a cross.