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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:
BlueSilverCats · 16/02/2025 06:41

@Kitkat189 if you want to understand what actually happened, you need to ask the teacher, who was actually in the classroom and doing the lesson.

As to how Muslims feel about it, in general, they don't mind , but they do see it as rather pointless when people of other/no faith do it.

HeyThereDelila · 16/02/2025 06:35

Not ok, complain to Head and Governors. Totally OTT by the RE teacher. Compelled speech is unacceptable.

Why should Muslims be afforded a level of respect not given to other religious groups?

MissTrip82 · 16/02/2025 06:33

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 15/02/2025 17:04

Sure and in the same class I would expect the teacher to ban “Oh my God”, “Jesus Christ”, “Jesus wept”, “Holy crap” etc. blaspheme.

As in it’s never going to happen so not going to say PBUH either. One rule for all or none at all I’m afraid.

Edited

That’s not remotely the same, and I would hope phrases like that are banned? Your primary school aged children attend a school at which it is ok to say ‘Jesus Christ’ like a swear word?

This is not the same as asking children not to blaspheme, which is reasonable. It’s akin to asking them to venerate a religious figure. Fine to do that in a school of that religion; not fine elsewhere.

MsAnderson · 16/02/2025 03:17

If schools are going to teach about religion, I wish they'd teach about the consequences of religion. Men making shit up to control everything. Women in many religions having no autonomy, yet teaching their daughters the same nonsense. Brainwashing from birth.

Original poster
Kitkat189 · 16/02/2025 02:54

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 15/02/2025 18:33

You have made a post about it on a public forum, the phrasing you have used such as ‘ to literally wish peace to a prophet of a religion you don’t belong too’ when it’s obviously being used in an educational setting
sorry I missed the part where you asked if it is normal to say ‘amen’ in assembly if you are not a Christian … oh wait you didn’t 🙄

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you took that somewhat out of context, I specifically said that this will not be a problem for most people, and that I was interested in the perspective of devout followers of other religions and how they would feel about this. My understanding of ‘peace be upon him’ is that the person uttering the phrase is not just going through motions, it is an expression of a genuine wish. For someone religious, would this be a problem? That would have been interesting to understand.

I am not outraged and I have not even considered raising this with the school, you are confusing my posts with what others have written here. My child is ten years old, of course there is a fair chance that there has been a misunderstanding. That’s why I spoke to some of the other parents, and that’s why I asked here, on this public forum. It helps me if I understand a) what actually happened in our school, and b) what is happening in other schools in this regard. It’s been helpful to read all the replies here and I have nothing further to say on this topic

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 16/02/2025 02:52

Dkdndndw · 15/02/2025 23:41

I mean Muslims would also say "peace be upon him" when talking about Jesus or Moses etc. What's the issue?

In school, though?

There's a difference between being taught about a religion and being required to adopt one of its practices by an authority figure.

Original poster
Kitkat189 · 16/02/2025 02:42

ChompandaGrazia · 15/02/2025 18:23

I suspect three things.

  1. this happened. - unlikely.
  2. the RE teacher mentioned it and the op’s dc got the wrong end of the stick - possible.
  3. the op is not genuine, had dropped this as a racist dog whistle, and run off into the the distance - most likely.

Still here. Really tiresome that you and some other posters see racism in my post. I had a genuine question about something I didn’t fully understand and thanks to some of the replies I am now satisfied with the situation. I wanted to know whether this happens in RE in other schools, particularly as I’d never heard of this with my older children, and it seems the answer is yes. That’s all I wanted to know. If people want to read outrage and racism into my post I can’t change that

OP posts:
RamsestheDamned · 16/02/2025 02:25

So they tell any atheists to do this too? I've made a point of not withdrawing DD from religious studies because it's important to learn about all religions regardless of belief in any. I'd make a point of pulling the teacher up on this.

UrsulaLongshanksTheFlamingo · 16/02/2025 02:12

BeJollyNewt · 15/02/2025 19:58

So teacher should ask the dc's in the class for each RE class and then teach the class? hilarious.

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? sorry, I don't understand your comment. I don't think the teacher should be asking kids to say 'peace be upon him' ever.

EmmaEmEmz · 16/02/2025 01:27

HoraceCope · 15/02/2025 18:55

oh dont forget its half term so no school next week

it's not half term everywhere. We have another full week to go.

Whammyyammy · 16/02/2025 00:05

100% inappropriate

Lavenderblossoms · 16/02/2025 00:02

Wtf 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I don't believe this is real.

BluebellsRinging · 16/02/2025 00:00

SuperTrooper14 · 15/02/2025 22:21

Islamophobia is not a good look.

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Nor is claiming every little thing is Islamophobic 🙄

maltravers · 15/02/2025 23:57

I wouldn’t accept kids being told to say “holy is his name” after Jesus either. This is inappropriate.

Lostcat · 15/02/2025 23:46

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 15/02/2025 23:44

I find the claim rather unbelievable.

This.

malificent7 · 15/02/2025 23:45

I think it is respectful and teaches them religious tolerance.Couldn't get worked up.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 15/02/2025 23:44

I find the claim rather unbelievable.

Dkdndndw · 15/02/2025 23:43

ThejoyofNC · 15/02/2025 16:56

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

All the Muslims will say "jesus peace be upon him"

Dkdndndw · 15/02/2025 23:41

I mean Muslims would also say "peace be upon him" when talking about Jesus or Moses etc. What's the issue?

Anonym00se · 15/02/2025 23:38

HoppityBun · 15/02/2025 23:15

Then you believe in a deity and that’s fine, of course, so it’s not an issue for you anyway. We’re talking here about everyone, whatever their religion or if they are non believers, having to say those words. Differences between religions are what define a religion, and the differences matter to those of a particular faith. You can’t just sweep up all Abrahamic religions and say they’re essentially the same thing and the same god. That’s not respectful

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So when a yoga teacher says “namaste”, the class shouldn’t repeat it back but instead raise their pitchforks and angrily declare that they refuse to have Hinduism forced upon them?

VisitationRights · 15/02/2025 23:26

It is compelled speech and indoctrination and any teacher requiring this is out of line.

HoppityBun · 15/02/2025 23:22

mrpenny · 15/02/2025 20:31

How is it disrespectful to show respect? Losing the will to live here. I have Buddhist friends do from other countries who out their hands together and pray in an Anglican Church a s a sign of respect that they acknowledge Christian’s’ belief. I taught RE thirty years ago and pbuh was standard. nothing new here.

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That’s a free choice though. Not what’s happening here. It’s disrespectful because it’s forced, mouthing compliance.

Towerofsong · 15/02/2025 23:21

MellowCritic · 15/02/2025 17:28

Exactly.. if op were saying the same about a Jewish prophet this thread would be shut down as anti semitic.

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Rubbish! Firstly there is no equivalent in Judaism except that orthodox Jews will write G-d without the o in it. But they don't expect anyone else to do that.

Secondly Jewish people don't get offended at non-Jewish people not displaying Jewish customs. Blasphemy about G-d would be offensive but nobody outside of Judaism is expected to use an expression denoting respect to any historical deceased religious figure.

Thirdly as a Jewish woman I would not cross myself around Catholics or say PBUH about Mohammed. I will be respectful but can't be expected to participate in a different religion, nor do I expect anyone to participate in mine.

Fourthly it's pretty disingenuous to claim a different standard is applied about antisemitism (and for the record I have seen some of the most virulent antisemitism of my life displayed freely on Mumsnet)

SapphOhNo · 15/02/2025 23:19

I finished compulsory education in 2000, it was a thing then.

Weddingbells6 · 15/02/2025 23:18

Are you sure your daughter is accurately saying what is happening? I am a teacher and have taught this subject many times. I am very careful to say ‘Muslims believe..’ and I say it a few times but then I follow it up with ‘I’m don’t believe in any god so I don’t say this myself…’ it’s a really tricky one to navigate as a teacher I’ll be honest and a few times I’ve been grateful I’m not being observed because no one actually tells you whether your own beliefs are allowed to be mentioned. I also remind them I don’t believe in any god when we teach Christianity etc because at a young age they often are under the impression that anything you’re teaching them is the truth. I think when I taught about Islam in Y1 I got the kids to say ‘peace be upon him’ each time I said the prophets name (in a small section of one lesson) because they find it fun and it helps them to remember the words (there’s often an assessment at the end of each unit). However, if any of the children went home and said ‘we had to say this every time…’ that would technically be true for a period of about 5 minutes but I’m definitely following that up with an explanation that they are entitled to their own beliefs. I suppose it’s a bit like acting out a historical event to make the learning fun and memorable, the kids aren’t actually beheading any of their wives if you get my drift. You could maybe ask the teacher.