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Original poster

School is asking children to say ‘peace be upon him’ anytime Mohammed is mentioned

518 replies

Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 16:55

My child’s teacher asks the class to always say ‘peace be upon him’ if the prophet Muhammed is mentioned in RE, for example. Used in a sentence it would be something like ‘Muhammad peace be upon him is the founder of Islam’

The teacher explained that this is to show respect to the Muslims in the class.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. Is there an expectation that non Muslims use this expression? Or is it more of a courtesy? I am guessing the latter?

And if it’s the former, should people be compelled to utter this phrase out of respect? To literally wish peace upon a prophet of a religion they don’t belong to? I realise this is not a problem for the majority of people but out of interest, would a devout follower of another religion have objections to this?

(This is year 6, teacher is not Muslim, there is one Muslim in the class whose family are pretty secular, he told the teacher he doesn’t use this expression himself.)

OP posts:
Echobowels · 15/02/2025 17:01

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/02/2025 16:58

I've taught secondary RE (I'm not a practising member of any faith) and never, ever asked the children to do this. It's fine for her to tell them that many Muslims say this if they say the prophet's name, but I wouldn't be happy about her compelling their speech in this way.

Ditto to everything here!

EmmaEmEmz · 15/02/2025 17:00

That would be a hard no from me

LittleRedRidingHoody · 15/02/2025 17:00

I'd mention it to the school tbh. Sounds like they are well-intentioned but completely clueless.

Alcazaba1 · 15/02/2025 17:00

I would complain to the head of school. Forcing all children to say this is inappropriate and disrespectful to those of different faiths or no faith at all.
Absolutely outrageous!

lentilbake16 · 15/02/2025 17:00

Really? A fuss about nothing. How long do they spend on Islam?

JHound · 15/02/2025 16:59

The teacher is being an idiot. Tell your child to ignore them.

RingoJuice · 15/02/2025 16:59

Anonym00se · 15/02/2025 16:58

I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Muslims would also say pbuh after they mention Jesus as well.

theres a difference between making students aware of what other groups do, and forcing kids in the class to do it too.

BLUEcups · 15/02/2025 16:59

No no and no.

NagathaCrispy · 15/02/2025 16:59

Nope!! Absolutely not.

Circumferences · 15/02/2025 16:58

This sounds political rather than educational.
Not appropriate.

ChompandaGrazia · 15/02/2025 16:58

I’ve heard it said before, by Muslims. Could the teacher have said that this is what is done by some people, rather than demanding it is done every time in school?

Anonym00se · 15/02/2025 16:58

I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Muslims would also say pbuh after they mention Jesus as well.

suburburban · 15/02/2025 16:58

No way

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/02/2025 16:58

I've taught secondary RE (I'm not a practising member of any faith) and never, ever asked the children to do this. It's fine for her to tell them that many Muslims say this if they say the prophet's name, but I wouldn't be happy about her compelling their speech in this way.

RingoJuice · 15/02/2025 16:57

That’s extreme tbh not even all Muslims do it and I think it is weird and tbh a bit aggressive to ask non-Muslims to do it. I think you should have a conversation about it with the school, shit like this needs to be nipped in the bud.

XWKD · 15/02/2025 16:57

This is absolute nonsense. The teacher is ignorant.

ThejoyofNC · 15/02/2025 16:56

It would be a no from me. I doubt they'll show Christianity the same respect.

HermioneWeasley · 15/02/2025 16:56

Absolutely not. This is completely inappropriate.