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Question:
Would it be permissible to buy this bag? It has the Switzerland flag on, which has a cross. I assume it's to do with Christianity. But I would like to buy the bag as it is on offer and I can use it for work. But will it be an issue because there is a cross on there?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
You may buy the bag on the condition that you remove the cross, e.g., tearing it off, effacing it, or blotting it with a marker. It is not permissible to use this bag with the cross on it because the cross is a salient feature of Christianity.
[عن عائشة أم المؤمنين:] أنَّ النبيَّ صَلّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَتْرُكُ في بَيْتِهِ شيئًا فيه تَصالِيبُ إلّا نَقَضَهُ.
صحيح البخاري ٥٩٥٢
Translation: Aisha (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) would not leave anything in his house that had (images of) crosses on it except that he would do naqd of it (i.e., break it and change its form. In another narration it is mentioned that he would cut it [Abu Dawud: 4151]).
A believer is sensitive regarding his faith. The Prophet (SAW) did this because he disliked having anything in his home that had disbelief and shirk connotations.
[عن عدي بن حاتم الطائي:] أتيتُ النَّبيَّ ﷺ وفي عنقي صليبٌ من ذَهبٍ. فقالَ يا عديُّ اطرح عنْكَ هذا الوثَنَ
أخرجه الترمذي (٣٠٩٥)
Adiy Ibn Hatim At-Taaiee (RA) narrates, “I came to the Prophet (SAW) while having a gold cross on my neck. So he said, ‘O Adiy! Throw this idol off of you!’”
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham