Is It Haram to Draw a Cross? Proofs Why It is Not Haram
C.J Ahmed-30.03.2023
Drawing a cross is not haram in Islam because it is only an inanimate object and a symbol that is used by Christians. There re several versions of crosses symbolising various dominations in Christianity and other culures like Hindus for n too use a cross called the “Swastika” which was adopted later as a symbol of Nazism under Hitler’s Germany. The misunderstanding and the confusion on whether the cross is allowed in Islam is due to one hadith which was narrated by Aisha(rali) who said,
“The prophet (sal) would never leave anything in his house on which there were any crosses without erasing them or – according to another report –cutting them out “(Bukhari)
This hadith does not state that the prophet (sal) forbade drawing crosss neither did he order others to erase crosses. In this hadith, the prophet(sal) personally used to erase crosses and there is a difference between doing something by oneself and ordering others to do the samething. The hadith of Aiah(rali) as stated above has nothing to do with drawing crosses or keeping them but was only the personal behaviour of the prophet(sal). Drawing a cross is halal because it is not even an animate object like a human or an animal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) said:
"Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and for every image that he made a soul will be created for him, which will be punished in the Fire." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects."
(Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (sal) said:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
What should be understood is that no hadith has forbidden creating or drawing inanimate objects like crosses. Even drawing animate objects such as humans and animals is halal and I have explained them clearly in my article which you can read by clicking here https://cjislam.weebly.com/3-proofs-why-drawing-living-things-is-not-haram-in-islam.html . The Quran and the authentic hadiths is very clear that drawing crosses is not haram but some try to quote the fatwas of cholars on this issue even after it is been clear in the Quran and authentic hadiths. Sheikh Uthaymin said the following by giving his opinion on crosses,
“As for that which is obviously not intended to be a cross, so it is not venerated and is not a religious symbol, such as some mathematical signs, or what is seen on some electronic wristwatches of plus signs, there is nothing wrong with this, and it is not regarded as being a cross at all”( Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen- vol. 18, 114, 115, answer to question no. 9)
The above fatwa is Ibn Uthaymeen’s personal opinion and everything that is said should be taken with a grain of salt and must be checked using the Quran and the authentic hadiths., Unlike nowadays where some muslim brothers and sisters are harsh when images of animate objects are present on clothes, books etc, the prophet (sal) was lenient on this issue. Images of animate beings are allowed when there are designs on the clothing or if there are images in sheets as well.
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
The above hadith also proves clearly that images or objects/dolls of animate beings is not haram.
Ubaydullah ibn `Abdullah who narrated that he went to Abu Talhah Al-Ansary to visit him during his illness and found Sahl ibn Hunayf with him. Abu Talhah asked someone to remove a rug on the floor. Sahl asked: "Why do you (want to) remove it? He replied: Because it includes suras and I know what the Messenger of Allah (Sal) said about them (suras – i.e. the ruling on them). He said: Did he not say: “Except a design in a cloth”. He said, “Yes, but this is more comfortable for me.”
(Narrated in Musnad Ahmed, Nasai ,Tirmidhi-Imam Tirmidhi graded it as Hasan Sahih)
There is nothing haram in drawing crosses.
Drawing a cross is not haram in Islam because it is only an inanimate object and a symbol that is used by Christians. There re several versions of crosses symbolising various dominations in Christianity and other culures like Hindus for n too use a cross called the “Swastika” which was adopted later as a symbol of Nazism under Hitler’s Germany. The misunderstanding and the confusion on whether the cross is allowed in Islam is due to one hadith which was narrated by Aisha(rali) who said,
“The prophet (sal) would never leave anything in his house on which there were any crosses without erasing them or – according to another report –cutting them out “(Bukhari)
This hadith does not state that the prophet (sal) forbade drawing crosss neither did he order others to erase crosses. In this hadith, the prophet(sal) personally used to erase crosses and there is a difference between doing something by oneself and ordering others to do the samething. The hadith of Aiah(rali) as stated above has nothing to do with drawing crosses or keeping them but was only the personal behaviour of the prophet(sal). Drawing a cross is halal because it is not even an animate object like a human or an animal.
Ibn Abbas(Rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) said:
"Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and for every image that he made a soul will be created for him, which will be punished in the Fire." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects."
(Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (sal) said:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
What should be understood is that no hadith has forbidden creating or drawing inanimate objects like crosses. Even drawing animate objects such as humans and animals is halal and I have explained them clearly in my article which you can read by clicking here https://cjislam.weebly.com/3-proofs-why-drawing-living-things-is-not-haram-in-islam.html . The Quran and the authentic hadiths is very clear that drawing crosses is not haram but some try to quote the fatwas of cholars on this issue even after it is been clear in the Quran and authentic hadiths. Sheikh Uthaymin said the following by giving his opinion on crosses,
“As for that which is obviously not intended to be a cross, so it is not venerated and is not a religious symbol, such as some mathematical signs, or what is seen on some electronic wristwatches of plus signs, there is nothing wrong with this, and it is not regarded as being a cross at all”( Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen- vol. 18, 114, 115, answer to question no. 9)
The above fatwa is Ibn Uthaymeen’s personal opinion and everything that is said should be taken with a grain of salt and must be checked using the Quran and the authentic hadiths., Unlike nowadays where some muslim brothers and sisters are harsh when images of animate objects are present on clothes, books etc, the prophet (sal) was lenient on this issue. Images of animate beings are allowed when there are designs on the clothing or if there are images in sheets as well.
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
The above hadith also proves clearly that images or objects/dolls of animate beings is not haram.
Ubaydullah ibn `Abdullah who narrated that he went to Abu Talhah Al-Ansary to visit him during his illness and found Sahl ibn Hunayf with him. Abu Talhah asked someone to remove a rug on the floor. Sahl asked: "Why do you (want to) remove it? He replied: Because it includes suras and I know what the Messenger of Allah (Sal) said about them (suras – i.e. the ruling on them). He said: Did he not say: “Except a design in a cloth”. He said, “Yes, but this is more comfortable for me.”
(Narrated in Musnad Ahmed, Nasai ,Tirmidhi-Imam Tirmidhi graded it as Hasan Sahih)
There is nothing haram in drawing crosses.