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AIBU?

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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:
Engleberthumper · 15/02/2025 17:34

icantgetnosheep1 · 15/02/2025 17:02

Jesus Christ on a bike .. 🤨🤨🤨

Please show some respect. It is "Jesus Christ on a bike, peace be upon him".

CrispieCake · 15/02/2025 17:34

I'd raise it with the head and ask if the teacher is ok.

ExtraOnions · 15/02/2025 17:35

This reply has been deleted

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BlueSilverCats · 15/02/2025 17:36

Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 17:29

The teacher is asking them to say it. The reason I found out was that my child said the phrase in question the other day. We drove past a mosque and the conversation drifted into Islam, and dc said something about Muhammed, added peace be upon him, and carried on with the sentence. I asked where that came from and was told that their teacher has told them to. I’ve asked a couple of other parents and it’s true, it’s what they’ve been taught

How did this teaching happen?

Did Jimmy say "Muhammad" and the teacher told him "No, Jimmy , you should say Muhammad pbuh as a sign of respect" ? And has been correcting pupils ever since?

Or it was the address in her teaching materials/resources so she used it and explained to the children what it means and it kind of stuck

Bigfishes · 15/02/2025 17:36

It’s religious misunderstanding. My friend is Jewish and doesn’t write the word God in full. She writes G-d. this is what her religion wants her to do, along with not eating prawns and having separate sinks etc. however just because she does, doesn’t mean I have to. The teacher is batshit

Engleberthumper · 15/02/2025 17:36

Chuchoter · 15/02/2025 17:20

After complaining to the school and the board of Governors and this was not stopped immediately, I would have removed my child from the school.

Why?

Original poster
Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 17:36

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 15/02/2025 17:21

I don’t see the issue, would it be such a problem for you if it was a different religion 🙄

Where did I say it’s an issue, please read again

OP posts:
BlueSilverCats · 15/02/2025 17:36

caringcarer · 15/02/2025 17:33

The teacher is attempting to brainwash the DC. I'd complain to Head and if they do nothing to stop it I'd complain to the Chair of Trustees.

Brainwash them into....?

ERthree · 15/02/2025 17:37

Note a chance. I have respect for all religions but i will not have Islam rammed down our throats. Islam is a minority religion in this country, it is not special and shouldn't be treated as so.

Original poster
Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 17:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

What an awful thing to say

OP posts:
OldChinaJug · 15/02/2025 17:37

I include it (PBUH) on PowerPoint presentations on Islam in RE, explain why it is said, and say it if im reading from the PowerPoint but only the Muslim children say it ordinarily and I don't say it at other times.

Non Muslim children are not required to say it but they must speak about him respectfully as they would speak respectfully about all religious figures.

I checked.

I didn't check because I had a problem with it but we were looking at photocopied examples of Islamic art in one lesson and one of the children told me it was disrespectful to throw the calligraphy away because it contained Allah's name. So I always check.

StandFirm · 15/02/2025 17:37

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.)

That is utterly ridiculous. Where does it stop? Why not tell all kids to say grace before their dinner to respect Christians in the school?

MuddyPawsIndoors · 15/02/2025 17:39

Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 17:29

The teacher is asking them to say it. The reason I found out was that my child said the phrase in question the other day. We drove past a mosque and the conversation drifted into Islam, and dc said something about Muhammed, added peace be upon him, and carried on with the sentence. I asked where that came from and was told that their teacher has told them to. I’ve asked a couple of other parents and it’s true, it’s what they’ve been taught

And not one single parent has complained to the school?

Very odd.

Wendolino · 15/02/2025 17:41

I'm a Christian and I wouldn't say it.

KetteringQueen · 15/02/2025 17:42

Hard no.

Pleasealexa · 15/02/2025 17:42

The equivalent for Christianity/Catholicism would be to make sign of the cross when saying Jesus. I don't think anyone would say this is acceptable for non Christians.

Suzuki76 · 15/02/2025 17:43

I was told this in RE in 1998.

Original poster
Kitkat189 · 15/02/2025 17:44

MuddyPawsIndoors · 15/02/2025 17:39

And not one single parent has complained to the school?

Very odd.

Show quote history

Why is it odd? You are assuming that we object? I never said that, I’m just posting this to better understand what other schools are doing. This is my third child in the same school and the others never mentioned this so it’s new to us. That’s all. Like I said in a previous post I checked with a couple of other parents if they knew anything about this and they were all aware, not a single person expressed any objections to this whatsoever

I know that Muslims use this expression but I was not aware that there might be some sort of expectation for the rest of us to do the same. Judging by the responses it doesn’t appear so.

OP posts:
Sugargliderwombat · 15/02/2025 17:44

ThejoyofNC · 15/02/2025 16:56

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

Who wouldn't? Muslims? How so?

PinkTonic · 15/02/2025 17:45

OldChinaJug · 15/02/2025 17:37

I include it (PBUH) on PowerPoint presentations on Islam in RE, explain why it is said, and say it if im reading from the PowerPoint but only the Muslim children say it ordinarily and I don't say it at other times.

Non Muslim children are not required to say it but they must speak about him respectfully as they would speak respectfully about all religious figures.

I checked.

I didn't check because I had a problem with it but we were looking at photocopied examples of Islamic art in one lesson and one of the children told me it was disrespectful to throw the calligraphy away because it contained Allah's name. So I always check.

Edited

Why should anyone speak respectfully about someone they don’t believe is worthy of respect? I understand respecting other people’s views and not insulting people, but their views are theirs. No one else who doesn’t share them is compelled to pay lip service.

NCfornow256 · 15/02/2025 17:45

More woke nonsense. I'd be complaining to the head, and, depending on their reaction, taking it further as necessary.

LoudSnoringDog · 15/02/2025 17:46

Big no.

SerendipityJane · 15/02/2025 17:46

This sort of guff is why people voted Trump and our press has become the Nigel Farage show. I am the worlds most vocal atheist, but notice how I researched that this is crock in Islam to start with. Which suggests the teacher ... well let's be generous and say they haven't understood what they have read. (An ungenerous person would suggest they damn well know it's a crock but knew they would be able to rile the ignorant).

Or been told.

Rightsraptor · 15/02/2025 17:47

This is indoctrination and must be resisted at all costs. I'm assuming your child isn't attending a Muslim school. If my DGD were instructed to say 'Our Lady' instead of 'Mary' for Jesus's mother or refer to him as 'Our Lord', that'd be a big fat 'no', as well.

Tulipvase · 15/02/2025 17:48

I work in a secondary school and have been in some P&R lessons and we don’t do this but we do write g-d instead of God out of respect, but the children aren’t told off if they don’t do it. It is just explained why we might do it.