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Fatwa CenterKeeping needed videos and books that have image of cross
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I apologize for sending so many questions, but I am confused with the matter of having the cross in my possession. Suppose that I have videos of history or books or any other objects that have a cross in it and I am unable to erase it from some, especially in video form, what do I do? Can I let it be as it will not be displayed everytime and given that I want to keep other components of the video? May Allaah bless you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Using items bearing the image of the cross without erasing or obliterating it is either prohibited or disliked (according to the different scholarly views in this regard).
The Hanbali scholar Al-Buhooti 
wrote, "It is disliked to have the image of the cross on clothes and the like, such as hats, coins, rings, etc. because ‘Aa’ishah reported that the Messenger of the Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never left anything bearing the image of a cross in his house without destroying the image. [Abu Daawood] The author of Al-Insaaf wrote, 'It may also be prohibited, and this is the apparent meaning (of Saalih’s report cited by Imaam Ahmad).'" [Kash-shaaf Al-Qinaa’]
Therefore, you should try to get rid of this cross to the best of your ability. If this is not possible and you need the item that bears the image of the cross, then we hope that there is no harm in using it, Allah willing. Some scholars held that it is allowed to use the legal concessions pertaining to the matters that are open for Ijtihaad (personal reasoning of scholars) in the case of need. As-Subki wrote, "It is permissible for the person who lacks religious knowledge to imitate the scholars and use the legal concessions that they grant in case of a dire need without deliberately following the legal concessions of the different scholars (on a regular basis), and hence it is correct to say that the difference (of opinion among the scholars) is a mercy because the legal concessions are a mercy for Muslims." [Al-Ashbaah wa An-Nathaa’ir]
Allah knows best.
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