Sacred Mysteries: Is it permissible to eat a hot cross bun?
There’s a useful website IslamQA.org that aggregates answers to questions about Islamic practice. “Are KP Skips Prawn Cocktail crisps now halal as they are labelled suitable for vegetarians?” – that sort of thing. Such detailed casuistry is, I think, also familiar to practising Jews.
Plenty of questions on IslamQA.org regard crosses. The answers rely on the authority of the legal experts quoted. “Is the embroidery stitching technique called ‘cross-stitch’ forbidden in Islam?” (Answer: No.)
“What are views about eating hot cross buns?” Answer: “It is impermissible to buy and eat hot cross buns, as there is resemblance with the disbelievers and it promotes their false ideology and views. There are many halal foods in the market, some of which are tastier than the hot cross bun.”
“I have a Christian colleague and a few days ago, he said that his computer was dead, and I jokingly said ‘Rest in peace’ and made a cross on my chest, like Christians do... I did istighfar [sought forgiveness] and reiterated kalimah [prayer professing faith]. Did this action make me leave the folds of Islam? Do I need to get my nikah [marriage contract] done again? Please reply in detail as I am really worried.” Answer: “As a matter of precaution, it was correct of you to reiterate the kalimah and it will be advisable for you to renew your nikah.”
It is well to be aware of such opinions. Otherwise one risks tempting believers to go against their consciences – all for the sake of a bun.
Crosses pervade British culture. They are in place names: Charing Cross, King’s Cross. The royal cypher on pillar boxes has a cross on the little crown; the Union flag has several crosses. The British Red Cross declares: “The red cross emblem has no intentional religious meaning,” but “since 1876, some countries have used a red crescent emblem”.
From an Islamic point of view, the Cross is a powerful symbol of Christian belief. Islam reveres Jesus as a prophet, but does not accept that he died on the Cross. In the fourth surah of the Koran, a reply is given to those who say: “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” The reply is: “But they neither killed nor crucified him – it was only made to appear so.”
To Christians, saying that Jesus did not die on the Cross is contrary to their central belief, which is that Jesus rose from the dead. The heresy called docetism taught that Jesus only appeared to have a human body. That is not the belief of Muslims, who are certain that he had a human body. The Islamic belief is that Jesus was taken up into heaven. Of course, Muslims strongly deny that Jesus is God.
Christians are widely seen by Muslims as worshippers of the Cross. This would be a sin of shirk – associating a creature with God, who is alone to be worshipped.
Today is the Christian feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Historically, it marked the restoration to Jerusalem in 629 of the relic of the Cross of Christ, which had been captured by the Sasanian Empire of the Persians, a pre-Islamic state.
Catholic and Orthodox Christians worship the Cross – with reference to the One who died upon it: they kiss it and bow before it. Anglicans of a sacramentalist outlook agree. Avowed Protestants disagree, but treat crosses with reverence. Buns are generally acceptable to Christians, except on Good Friday for those fasting.
Oh, and prawn-flavoured crisps with no prawns in, advertised as suitable for vegetarians, were judged halal.