Is that the Emblem of the Cross on a Mercedes and Chevrolet?

By: Shaykh Abu Abdul Mu’iz Muhammad Ali Ferkous Al-Jaaza’iree(May Allah Preserve him)

Questioner: Is the emblem on the front and back of a Mercedes and a Chevrolet considered a cross? Is it an obligation for me to remove it, even if this resulted in a decrease in the car’s value? May Allah give you the success to explain the legal ruling for this issue. May Allah reward you abundantly.

Answer: Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, the Mercy for Man and Jinn. We ask that peace and blessings be upon the Prophet’s household, his companions and all the other Prophets until the Day of Judgement?

Every emblem that resembles a cross isn’t prohibited and forbidden. The cross is known. The Christians sanctify and extol this emblem, and take it as a sign for worship. In most cases this symbol appears on right angles. The bottom is lager than the top. The Christians consider the cross a distinguished symbol of following ‘Essa ibn Maryam. There are various types of crosses;

1. The cross of  St. George
2. The cross of  St. Andrew
3. The cross of Laruen
4. The of  Malta
5. The cross of the Catholic Church
6. The cross of Anthony and others. The Red Cross is also included in this category.

 Crosses were placed on the flags of some European countries such as Switzerland, England, Finland and others which are recognized by all the people residing in those lands

Now in reference to raising the price of an item that carries this image then it is not permissible for a Muslim to increase the price, due to this symbol of Shirk. The cross symbolizes worship to other than Allah. Whoever resembles a people in their practices is just like them. This comes from the Hadeeth where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ…

“Whoever imitates a people is like them”(Abu Dawud 4033,Ahmed 5232)Al-Albani graded this hadeeth as being authentic in Irwa Al-Ghalil 1269

 Whenever this kind of cross is sold on an item or on a piece of equipment that a Muslim possesses, it must be defaced, blotted, something glued on it, or any other way to censure this symbol. At the same time the price of this merchandise remains the same and everything that is connected to this symbol is hidden. This is based on the Hadeeth from’Aisha(may Allah be pleased with her )who said that,”

لَمْ يَكُنْ يَتْرُكُ فِي بَيْتِهِ شَيْئًا فِيهِ تَصَالِيبُ إِلاَّ نَقَضَهُ

“Everything that carried a cross or image in the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) house was destroyed.” (Al-Bukhari 5608)

Ibn Hajr said,” Since destroying images and crosses is intended in this hadeeth, then defacing, scratching off, and spoiling them as well is included.  This is the act that should be done to all images, including images engraved in a wall.” (Fathul Bari 10/ 385-386).

If the person doesn’t have the ability to change it with his hands then he must use any other means at his disposal. This is taken from the hadeeth where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)said,

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ

“Whoever witnesses something evil must change it with his hands if he has the ability, otherwise he must speak against it. If he isn’t able to speak against it, he must hate it in his heart. Hating this evil in the heart is the weakest of faith.”(Muslim 177)

 This ruling is carried out once it becomes clear that this is the cross which the Christians extol. This isn’t the type of image which is found on the front and back of Chevrolet and Mercedes ,and require defacing.

The Knowledge is with Allah the Most High. Finally we ask Praise Allah , Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Messenger Muhammad, his family, companions and prophets until the Day of Resurrection.

 Rabee’ Thani 18^th, 1428 /May 5^th,2007 Algeria.