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.)

As far as I’m aware, non-Muslims are not required to say PBUH. The teacher is being over top and I don’t recall being asked to say it in RE during my time at school.

Complain!

Me too. I’m white CofE and went to a predominantly white secondary school in the mid 90’s, I think there were 2 Muslims in my class? But we were taught by our RE teacher (also white Christian) that is was the polite and proper way to say his name so my brain just automatically adds it!

I’d check with the school rather than with other parents who have also heard it from their child. I’ve never heard of children being made to say that so I’d be surprised if it was true.

Which also means the unit has ended and there will be no more "brainwashing " until y7.

Who's "they"?. There is only one Muslim in the class whose parents are secular.

Why would it be an issue? I thought Mumsnetters were all about showing respect for religions. Or do you only want respect for Christianity?

I expect my children to afford respect by learning about the beliefs that other people have, not participating in acts of deference to those religious beliefs.

The school

It's ok for children who practice the religion to say it but absolutely unreasonable to expect those of other religions or none to say it and it doesn't require children to say it in order for them to learn about the religion anymore than learning about Christianity requires people to cross themselves. Why should a child be forced to say something they don't believe in or agree with. That's not showing respect to children who don't follow the religion. Religion should never be forced on anyone, especially a child.

If DC are forced to say that phrase I disagree. Only Muslim DC should be asked to say it and then only if they want to. You can't force religion down everyone's throats.

There’s some raging Islamophobia on this thread!

I remember having similar RE lessons in school almost forty years ago. We learned loads of stuff about Islam including how to perform a Muslim prayer. We had the same types of lessons for Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, etc. There was no attempt to indoctrinate us, merely to educate us about the beliefs and customs of other religions. Our school was 99% white British.

I’m agnostic but if I go to a church for a wedding or funeral, I’ll pray and sing hymns along with everyone else. It’s just basic respect.

Maybe if everyone was educated to understand others’ beliefs, there would be far more tolerance and respect and less fear and hatred in the world.

No....

I agree, mostly, but you can force religion down everyone's throats. If religions didn't they would have died a natural death centuries ago.

I wouldn't be happy saying it

I did my GCSE religious education in 1996; and we were never taught that. I have heard it very occasionally since then.

Sounds like the teacher is trying a bit to hard

It’s a choice to acknowledge its important to Muslims to shiw this respect, Mohammed is not relevant to Christianity but Jesus is a prophet in Islam so why he is acknowledged

I'm a Catholic, my late husband had a Jewish father.
I would never allowed my children to say that, it's a disgrace.

I've never heard of this but think it's inappropriate. If the school was a Muslim school then fine, otherwise no. Also what's the deal for boys who have that as their name? Isn't it (and various spellings variations) one of the most popular UK boys' names now? Would they be addressed with pbuh every time someone says their name? Not trying to be awkward, just generally curious if it's literally any use of the name or only use of the name when referring to the actual prophet.

I didn't even take RE for GCSE (there was far too much emphasis in the syllabus upon Christianity in my opinion), but I already knew this was the appropriate way to refer to him, which means at the very latest, we would have been taught this in Spring 1986.

Of course it's only when referring to the prophet(s).

I'm white British and not religious in the slightest but I would always say PBUH if I happened to mention the prophet Muhammed

If you said that I'd genuinely assume you were Muslim.

Compelled speech is the opposite of tolerance.

I'd pull my children out of the class and make the governors aware why that was happening.

You say; "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."

I think someone's had some crap training from some Stonewallesque types. The sooner we get a DOGE in our public services the better.

I don't respect any religion, I do respect people's rights to believe whatever they want, and I expect them to respect my right not believe.