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

[Kitkat189]

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.)

And wasn’t there then an investigation

it shouldn’t have got that I agree

but it’s not the same as living in a country where people fear the morality police for good reason

we do not live like this which is something I truly appreciate

Yes we are very fortunate and want it to stay this way

I was quoting someone who was in the post you replied to- and in general it has been flung around on the thread quite a bit.

@Chunkychips23 unfortunately there have been such violent reactions to perceived insults to the prophet that people are afraid of saying something wrong and triggering a fatwah.

That's not right so maybe steps need to be taken by the powers that be eg the Muslim councils of Great Britain to allow a discussion, any discussion to be able to take place around Islam.

Same. Although we seem to be losing the edges of that.

Raised Christian, former RE teacher, don't object to PBUH except that I might forget to say it and thus offend people.

don't object to PBUH except that I might forget to say it and thus offend people.

Why would anyone be offended at you not saying it? If they were, they'd be in the wrong and very intolerant.

@StopStartStop would you be equally mindful of those who believe in santa for their kids and if not would you be concerned certain religions don't follow santa isn't that equally disrespectful?

Or do we say, they don't follow it and we don't care

I haven’t met any adults who believe in Santa for their kids

they pretend to

it’s not quite the same thing …..

This thread reminds me of the "He/she can learn about Islam, but a visit to a mosque is a step too far.." parents.

I don't think so

I wouldn't expect dc to be taught to do the sign of the cross at school as a ritual either

It's for each religion to keep those rituals and dc just to learn more broadly

Yes, respect should go both ways. My child recently went on a school trip to a synagogue to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The only two children in the class who didn't attend were Muslims. I guess a visit to a synagogue was a step too far...

Hmm.

I don't like the lies people tell their children about Santa and would not comply with a requirement to pretend I believed. 'Santa' isn't part of any religion. There is no 'Santa' in the Bible, for example. When I had a small child we discussed this and still 'played the Santa game' before going to midnight mass and to morning prayer before presents. It was fine.

I began life in a mainly believing family, grew up as a believer, developed a deep and lasting interest in religions and belief systems, studied them at school, at home, at university, and taught religious education for over twenty years.

I don't think Santa and religous beliefs are comparable. One is a device for financial gain, the other is rooted in a sincere desire to live responsibly and take into account the experiences which suggest to believers that there is a greater being than themselves.

eta: My dd is 42. My dgd is 13. I still look at the Norad Santa Tracker. 😂

@zebraztripes maybe it depends on the area? Our muslim children (and their parents) had no objections to trips to churches (every Christmas and as part of the curriculum), synagogue, temple etc.
The only trips they skip (from other religions too) regularly are overnight residentials.

The mosque objectors were either atheists or Christians.

Perhaps. The synagogue objectors were Muslims.

No need to complain or go to the governors. Total overreaction. Just ask the teacher and if it is the case that she is insisting everyone says it ask her to double check because you don’t believe it is the case that anyone has to say it. That way you get your message across without aggression. Im sure that if she did say it, it’s because she is trying to do the right thing. We are all human after all.

If there was a school trip to a mosque and you had a DD, would you be adamant they didn't cover their hair?

@StopStartStop I don't know how you have followed religion for so long and not come to the conclusion that it's not for financial gain?

Religion is all about power, financial gain and control of women.

Parents who buy into santa are certainly not getting any financial gain? And they would buy presents at Xmas anyway with or without him it just adds some magic.

A magic fairy in the sky
..

I work as a supply TA sometimes. I went on a school visit to a mosque without a hair covering and it was fine. No-one said anything or was offended. I don't think the girls had to cover their heads either, but they were small. We were there to listen to a talk, not to worship.

It is an interesting issue on head coverings etc. Most of us on holiday tend to try to fit in eg I covered my hair on business in Iran. In Spanish Cathedrals most people would cover their arms. On copying a cultural item that can be a minefield in itself. If I put on a burka because I did not want CCTV recording me that is lawful but some muslims might think it was a bit cheeky to do so if not muslim and cultural appropriation might come into play.

In Catholic masses non Catholics are not allowed to take communion (Tony Blair got in trouble for that before he converted from the C oif E)_. C of E allow any Christian to take it - that is probably because of the different religious views of the two kinds of Christianity about what is called transubstantiation I think.

If you wish peace on someone who does not exist today whenever you say the name of the supposed Prophet that is not necessarily the right thing to do even if some muslims want you to do so. Requiring children in school where Islaim may well be against their religious beliefs might be tantamount to asking them bown down before the teacher's personal altar of Satan she set up in the classroom because she is a satanist. It sounds like a recipe for problems.

I don't know how you have followed religion for so long and not come to the conclusion that it's not for financial gain?

Ah, that's easy. 'Religions', big businesses employing people, owning property etc, that might well be for financial gain, as well as for power to exert over others.

'Religion', belief, following teachings etc - that's personal, not for any gain other than the hope of heaven.

This definitely happened.

It did. Plus the Muslims banned Christmas, and made everyone, everywhere, refer to it as 'Winterval'.

Do you have a link to this please, absolutely fascinating.

Sorry, I really can't understand what you're saying here, nor your previous reply either.