What is the ruling on wearing a cross in order to conceal one’s identity in the airport?
Question

                Some Muslims find themselves forced to flee from their country because of war and other reasons, so they resort to travelling to Europe using a forged passport showing a European nationality, but in order that the airport employees will not have doubts about them, some of them wear a cross when entering the airport. What is the ruling on wearing a cross in this situation?
Praise be to Allah.
	Firstly:

	The cross is one 
	of the obvious symbols of disbelief, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy 
	on him) said in Ahkaam Ahl adh-Dhimmah (3/1240). Therefore there was 
	no difference of opinion among the scholars that it is prohibited to wear 
	it.

	It says in 
	al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah (12/88): It is not permissible 
	for the Muslim to make a cross and it is not permissible for him to issue 
	instructions for a cross to be made. What is meant is making a cross that is 
	symbolic of the crucifixion, and he should not keep it, whether he wears it 
	or sets it up, or he does neither.

	Many of the 
	scholars have clearly stated that the one who does that is a disbeliever.
	

	It says in 
	al-Fataawa al-Hindiyyah, one of the books of the Hanafi madhhab (2/276): 
	A person becomes a disbeliever if he puts a Zoroastrian cap on his head, 
	according to the correct view, except in the case of necessity to protect 
	himself from heat or cold; or if he puts a zunnaar [a kind of belt that was 
	worn by non-Muslims in the past] around his waist, unless he does that by 
	way of deceit at a time of war or he is acting as a scout ahead of the 
	Muslim army. End quote.

	It says in Majma‘ 
	al-Anhur fi Sharh Multaqa al-Abhur, which is also a Hanafi book (1/698): A 
	person becomes a disbeliever if he puts a Zoroastrian cap on his head, 
	according to the correct view, except if it is  for the purpose of freeing a 
	Muslim prisoner or it is a case of necessity to protect himself from heat or 
	cold, according to some scholars. End quote.

	Al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad 
	said: Similarly, we regard as a disbeliever anyone who does any action that 
	the Muslims are unanimously agreed can only come from a disbeliever, even if 
	the one who does it openly professes Islam, yet he does that action…

	… Such as 
	prostrating to an idol, or to the sun or moon, or to a cross, or to fire, or 
	going to churches and synagogues with their congregations, or wearing their 
	garments, such as wearing their zunnaar (distinctive belts) or cutting the 
	hair in the style of a monk (tonsure).

	The Muslims are 
	unanimously agreed that such things are only done by a disbeliever, and that 
	these actions are symbols of disbelief, even if the one who does them openly 
	professes Islam.

	End quote from
	ash-Shifa bi Ta‘reef Huqooq al-Mustafa – Mahdhoof al-Asaaneed 
	(2/611). 

	The scholars of 
	the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked about the ruling on 
	wearing a cross and they replied:

	If the ruling on 
	wearing a cross is explained to him, and he is told that it is a symbol of 
	the Christians and is an indication that the wearer is content to be 
	regarded as one of them and that he is content with what they believe in, 
	yet he persists in that, he is to be deemed a disbeliever, because Allah, 
	may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

	“O 
	you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliyâ’ (friends, 
	protectors, helpers), they are but Auliyâ’ of each other. And if any amongst 
	you takes them (as Auliyâ’), then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allâh 
	guides not those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers and 
	unjust)”

	[al-Maa’idah 
	5:51].

	If zulm 
	(wrongdoing) is mentioned in general terms, then what is meant is major 
	shirk and by doing that he is indicating that he agrees with the Christians 
	in their claim that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) was killed, but Allah, may He 
	be glorified, has denied that in His book, where He says (interpretation of 
	the meaning):

	“but 
	they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Īsā (Jesus) 
	was put over another man (and they killed that man)”

	[an-Nisaa’ 
	4:157].

	Shaykh ‘Abd 
	ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allah preserve him) said: The cross is well-known 
	to be the idol of the Christians in their churches and in their homes, and 
	they wear it around their necks and on their chests. Hence it is the symbol 
	of Christianity, and it is prohibited for the Muslim to wear it.

	If a Muslim 
	wears it in order to appear to be a Christian, then this is a way of 
	expressing his approval of the Christians in their religion, and approving 
	of the Christians in their religion constitutes disbelief in Allah, except 
	in the case of one who fears for his life, in which case he is regarded as 
	being under compulsion, and Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation 
	of the meaning):

	“Whoever 
	disbelieved in Allâh after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and 
	whose heart is at rest with Faith…”

	[an-Nahl 16:106].

	With regard to 
	one who wears a cross out of ignorance, then he is excused because of his 
	ignorance.

	With regard to 
	one who wears it to please the Christians, that is prohibited and there is 
	the fear that it may come under the heading of disbelief in Allah… What the 
	Muslim must do is beware of that which Allah has prohibited. There is no 
	doubt that it is one of the most serious kinds of imitating the 
	disbelievers, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) 
	said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood 
	(4031). So what he must do is beware of that, and we ask Allah to keep us 
	safe and sound. And Allah knows best. End quote.

	http://ar.islamway.net/fatwa/8605

	Based on that, 
	if the Muslim referred to in the question was compelled to do this, in the 
	sense that he feared that he might be killed or imprisoned if he did not do 
	that, then there is no blame on him in sha Allah, so long as when he did 
	that his heart was at rest with faith.

	But if the 
	situation has not reached the point of compulsion and having no other 
	choice, then it is not permissible for him to do that.

	It is essential 
	to differentiate between the situation of one who has been compelled to flee 
	from his country and the situation of one who is compelled to wear a cross. 
	He may have been compelled to flee from his country in order to escape being 
	killed or imprisoned, but wearing a cross is not something that he is forced 
	to do, because even if he did not wear it, he would not be subjected to 
	killing, imprisonment and the like.

	This is a matter 
	concerning which one should be careful and understand the case of necessity 
	in which such concessions are granted, and cases in which there is no such 
	necessity.

	Moreover, if he 
	is patient and does not make an outward show of symbols of disbelief, or 
	utter words of disbelief, this is better, even if he does fear for his life.

	Making an 
	outward show of symbols of disbelief in the case of necessity which makes 
	such things permissible is a concession that is granted and there is no 
	obligation to avail oneself of it; rather firm resolve is better than that.

	With regard to 
	fleeing for the sake of one’s religious commitment and one’s life, for fear 
	of fitnah (persecution) or death, this is something that is prescribed in 
	Islam and is either recommended or obligatory, according to the situation.

	And Allah knows 
	best.