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Monday, June 09, 2014

Ruling on Wearing St. Georges Cross

Question: Some people have recently differed on the ruling of a Muslim who wears a cross[1], a symbol which is exclusive to the Christians. Some of us say that that the one who wears it has committed an act of Kufr (disbelief) and others hold the opinion that it is not Kufr (disbelief) but admit that it is Haraam and not permissible. Another group hold the view that it can only be Kufr (disbelief) if one persists on wearing it[2].

Answer: To understand this matter in detail it is obligatory to know the ruling on wearing a cross, which is a symbol exclusive to the Christians. The one who wears the cross is like the one who is pleased with the beliefs of the Christians and as a result the one who wears it has committed an act of Kufr (disbelief). This is based on the statement of Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted:

"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust)."
[al-Maaidah 5:51]

The meaning of Dhulm or wrong doer in the end of this Aayah refers to major Shirk.

Also, in wearing the cross, one shows that they agree with their ‘Aqeedah(beliefs), in believing the speculation they have about 'Esaa [Peace be Upon him] dying on the cross. Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, negated this false belief in His Noble Book when He, the Glorified and the Exalted, stated:

“…but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)]
[an-Nisaa 4:157]

And Allaah is the Source of all Strength. May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon Our Messenger, Muhammad and Upon his Family and Companions.

Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars for Research and Religious Rulings
Signed:

President: ‘Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz
Vice President: 'Abdul-Razaaq ‘Afeefee
Member: 'Abdullah bin Ghudayaan
Member: 'Abdullah bin Qa’ood

[2/119 (Fatwaa No. 2245)]




[1] George was adopted as the patron saint of soldiers after he was said to have appeared to the Crusader army at the Battle of Antioch in 1098. Many similar stories were transmitted to the West by Crusaders who had heard them from Byzantine troops, and were circulated further by the troubadours. When Richard 1 was campaigning in Palestine in 1191-92 he put the army under the protection of St George (i.e. this man was a figurehead in mutilating Muslims and this is what the flag represents). Taken from http://www.britannia.com/history/stgeorge.html
[2] NOTE: Most football and sport clothes have Haraam images such as crosses and other symbols of Kufr. It may also be Haraam to wear because of the presence of an image of an animal (i.e. lions, roosters, alligators etc.) or the name of an immoral person.

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