Erasing crosses and other symbols of Kufr

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh from
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) would never leave anything in his house on which there
were any crosses without erasing them or – according to another report –cutting
them out.

This hadeeth indicates that if the Prophet
(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) saw a cross on something, he would not leave it without blotting it
out, or cutting it out if it was still visible after blotting it out, because the cross is
something that is worshipped instead of Allaah, and its presence is something
objectionable (munkar) which must be changed. This is a summary of what was said by
Al-Haafiz in Al-Fath.

It was also reported that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said:

“Whoever among you sees an evil action (munkar), let him change it
with his hand [by taking action], and if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking
out], and if he cannot, then with his heart [by feeling that it is wrong], and that is the
weakest of faith.”

Muslim also narrated that Abu’l-Hayaaj al-Asadi
said: “ ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to me: ‘Shall I not send
you on the same mission that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) sent me? Do not leave any image without blotting it out and do not leave any
built-up grave without levelling it.’”

These two ahaadeeth indicate that it is obligatory to change, remove or
blot out any objectionable thing (munkar). The symbols of kufr (including the six-pointed
star) are included in this, so they must be removed and wiped out. And Allaah knows best.