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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Muslim prayers

426 replies

Amibeingtoosensitive · 14/03/2017 19:11

My DD (9) had R.E today
They were learning about Muslim prayers. All fine.
They then went on to get prayer mats and say a Muslim prayer, with their shoes off, on their knees as a group.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about my DD being made to do a religious practice we do not believe in.

OP posts:
superstaary · 16/03/2017 23:35

1horatio you may want to tear yourself away from the bits that you "think" support your views and a) read said religious text in the context of the time it was given and b) read it in its entirety. I doubt very much that you will though, as you seem quite happy in your narrow minded judgement.

I personally have had my fill of this thread, predictability it has turned into another religion bashing thread.

1horatio · 16/03/2017 23:42

said religious text

I'm very curious.... Said religious text? Which one are you talking about?

I doubt very much that you will though, as you seem quite happy in your narrow minded judgement.

My narrow minded judgement? I'm not sure what comment you're referring to. I'm genuinely curious...

bonfireheart · 17/03/2017 07:05

Ain't nothing like writing the word Muslim in a title that gets MN rushing out
Muslim
Muslim
Muslim
Muslim

Peace be with you all.

BartholinsSister · 17/03/2017 07:16

a) read said religious text in the context of the time it was given

I expect all religious texts made sense once upon a time. Nowadays, not so much.

sherazade · 17/03/2017 07:19

A Muslim can pray to god in any language , place , position
There are different types of prayer .

EnormousTiger · 17/03/2017 07:23

About half the people in the UK dont' believe in God (and that is growing). However we do on the whole behave politely to others - in fact the British are known for tolerance and kindness, but we reserve the right to express our views on any religion and indeed anything.

Islam like most of the religions is appropriate for deserts many years ago and was trying to be good in its time. The idea a man might look after 4 wives rather than have his way and abandon them was sensible and protected women who in those days needed that protection but is clearly very sexist as they don't go around letting women have 4 husbands etc etc. Ditto plenty of the orthodox jewish rules. My Catholic mother always explained a lot of this in a very nice way - you cut the penis because there is a lot of sand in the desert that would otherwise get in and cause problems. You don't eat pork because it goes off without fridges. The basics of most of the religions are pretty good too - be kind to others, love your neighbour, treat others how you want them to be treated - all the religions and most atheists go in for that - they are common human values.

However schools paid for by tax payers need to be careful how they present religions to pupils so making primary school children pray in synagogues, mosques or elsewhere is not a good idea unlses you explained it as why not have a bit of quiet time now, those who think there is a God can pray and the rest of you just have a bit of peace.

bonfireheart · 17/03/2017 07:25

enormoustiger you'll get ignored making sensible comments.

Chloe84 · 17/03/2017 07:35

A lot of religions rely on mystery to control people and what better way to do that by having some kind of superior language for that.

Enormous You do realise millions of people have Arabic as their mother tongue? It's not mysterious to them.

sherazade · 17/03/2017 07:39

Schools being paid for by tax payers are not forcing children to pray.
Pork going off as they didn't have fridges? Sand getting in penises ?
Jesus wept .

BartholinsSister · 17/03/2017 07:54

And chicken, milk, lamb etc going off too of course.

Alfieisnoisy · 17/03/2017 07:56

Any meat would have gone off in hot climates "without fridges".

Food preservation is an old as humankind...salting etc.

Anyway...children taking part in copying prayer....is probably a waste of time and it could have been shown in other ways. You don't always need to partake in a ritual to understand it.

That's all that can be said tbh, am sure the school will reflect and look at how else it could be done. YouTube springs to mind.

BartholinsSister · 17/03/2017 07:58

Luckily nature provides a foreskin to protect penises from things like sand.

ollieplimsoles · 17/03/2017 08:20

there is always a jaded bitterness in atheists that seems slightly jealous or sulky, that those who have a faith are able to be comfortable with having simple faith.

This really made me laugh. 'simple faith'...that's exactly what it is.
Why don't you open your mind a bit, stop living by a fusty 2000 year old book of barbaric stories and magic tricks. Read a science book, and stop putting non believers in the same box you've invented in your mind.
Have you considered that some non believers are actually comfortable with rejecting religion- that they feel better for it. Faith is not something that some people or lucky enough to just 'get' and the rest of us are to be pitied because we don't have it. Its a choice.

Bambambini · 17/03/2017 08:28

First time i've ever completely agreed with Enormous Tiger.

So why did they circumcise back then if not to reduce problems due to folk having less access to basic hygene we take for granted today? Same with the mode of dress - makes sense in more desert climates for protection.

muhajaba · 17/03/2017 08:32

You don't eat pork because it goes off without fridges
Muslims are only allowed to eat herbivores, pigs are omnivores

Read a science book
Islam is compatible with science

ollieplimsoles · 17/03/2017 08:41

Islam is compatible with science

Oh yes I forgot about all the scientific things in there- like creationism, winged- horses that fly up to heaven, and the mystical force that keeps salt and fresh water separate so humans and animals can drink the fresh water.

SuperBeagle · 17/03/2017 08:46

No religion is compatible with science.

SuperBeagle · 17/03/2017 08:47

there is always a jaded bitterness in atheists that seems slightly jealous or sulky, that those who have a faith are able to be comfortable with having simple faith.

Yep, jealousy, that's it.

Went to a Catholic school for 10 years and had it rammed down my throat to no avail, but I'm definitely jealous of all believers.

schoolofconfusion · 17/03/2017 08:50

Well in the school I taught in the 70% of Muslim pupils we had said the Lords prayer and did hands together eyes closed prayers each day.

They didn't Have to of course. No one would have punished them for sitting quietly and not joining in.

I think some religions might have issue with their child praying to another religion and that's fair enough but if you don't believe in anything then it's just' acting' surely

BartholinsSister · 17/03/2017 08:53

Islam is compatible with science

Angels? flying horses? Souls? Life after death? No evolution for humans?

muhajaba · 17/03/2017 08:56

ollieplimsoles I'm sure you think you are pretty clever already but if you educate yourself a bit you will find that yes, Islam is compatible with science.

SuperBeagle Massively untrue generalisation.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 17/03/2017 09:02

Chickens are also omnivores

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 17/03/2017 09:03

Sorry didnt finish

So is chicken avoided in some cultures or would it be ok if the chicken only ate grain

schoolofconfusion · 17/03/2017 09:04

*Vermillion I am a single Mum and both ex and myself have no religion although baptised C of E. My child has done Holy Communion, first confession, and confirmation etc. She decided herself

ollieplimsoles · 17/03/2017 09:04

No not 'clever', just well read- on both sides of the argument. I own a Quran and have read it. I also own a king james bible, book of Mormon and a Torah, all read.

You made the statement, you provide the proof for it, how is Islam compatible with science?