I am Muslim and my son goes to a private christian school...?

Question

He is only 5 years old. He just started to talk about Jesus and all that stuff. Although I want my son to be able to learn both religions, how can I approach him and teach him Islam without confusing him?

I do not want him to feel overwhelmed. I want him to understand that his religion is Islam, however there are people out there that believe in different religions and that we should respect them.

Please answer this question seriously. If you are not Muslim and don't understand my dilemma, please keep your comments to yourself.

Thanks...

I thank you all for your kind answers. I expected people judging me but instead all of you tried to help. Thanks a lot.

My son goes to this private school, because they are top notch when it comes to education and he loves it there. Trust me if I knew of any Islamic schools I would send him there immediately.

Don't you all think wherever he goes he will hear people talk about Christianity, considering most people out here are Christians?

I do want my son to be able to choose his religion when he gets older. God knows I hope he will stick with Islam.

Answer 1

Salam Alaikum,
I'm Muslim and I actually go to a Catholic school, so I wonder if I should now and then.
I would be hesitant in telling him striaght out that his teachers are wrong, he might go against them in different matters, not just religion. I do think however, that at 5 years old, he will be more likely to follow your example than that of his teachers. Keep him informed on the subject, and let him know what is right and what is wrong, but I wouldn't involve any faces or names. He might group all of them together as wrong.
I would take the "people of the book" route; that they have the basic idea, but its been corrupted. Id present Islamd as an addition to what he is learning at school, and a perfection of it. That way he won't see teachers and students at his school as wrong and different than him, but be able to respect them.
Hope I helped.

Answer 2

I understand your dilemma and even though I am a Christian, I respect your decision. I do find your decision to place your child in a christian school to be rather odd considering his age. Children learn their moral and religious values and traditions from the home from birth to about puberty. If you are a muslim from birth and don't observe your chosen religion on at least a weekly basis, then don't expect your young impressionible child to "choose" Islam over Christianity. He will be with children from Christian families and Christian teachers several hours a day, five days a week. Christianity is a full-time lifestyle for many dedicated workers. These workers send their children to the same Christian schools.
Most children see the dedication and sincerity and are won by that alone.

I recommend that if you want to raise your child by Islamic teachings, homeschool your child until they hit fifth or sixth grade. This way they observe how you wish for them to handle the question of religion. The best way to introduce your child to Christianity is to buy a Bible and read it with him. When he asks a question that you can't answer, call a local Christian minister and answers are usually provided at no charge. Baptists and independent ministers know the Bible better than the more liberal denominations because they hold the Bible in high respect. It is the cornerstone of their faith. Your child will then consider you an authority on religious matters and you will maximize your influence.

Answer 3

I am not Muslim but don't understand why you send him to a Christian school knowing full well that he will be taught Christian things. I suggest that you teach him about what you know about both religions and let him make his own decision as he ages. If you want his religion to be Islam, you better think about changing his schools. I would not send my child to a school that teaches what I don't believe in. I am not being mean or rude to you. I hope things work out for you!

Answer 4

I am Muslim too, and i would suggest you to let him learn everything and let him decide that what religion he wants to go for may be he would like to be an atheist. We Muslims have closed our minds to think about only Islam. While the world is to vast, there is a great variety of peoples, believes, cultures and civilizations, let him grow and him learn learn everything around him if you smart and pragmatic enough that you can think in today not 1400 years ago. I know you will not suggest this suggestion but may someday you think about it. No one replied ur question (that sounds no one care what u r thinking as this is not an issue at all and we Muslims spend whole of our lives for this) that's why I replied it.

Answer 5

Well, as a Christian I am happy about your decision. But I know very little about Islam, I think you are doing good, because the other option would be public school and they would be cruel and mean to him. The Christian people won't. My son has attended Christian School since he was 7 years old, he is a sophomore in High School now, I would not put him in public school because of the drugs, gangs, cuss words, disrespect and lack of values and morals. Plus my son learns about God, whom I worship. But there will come a time, when they make up their own mind, I pray he remains a Christian and not a non-believer (heathen or agnostic)

PS Christian schools and Catholic schools are not the same. The Catholics separate themselves from the Cristian's schools. They do not participate in sports or activities with Christian Schools, they are on their own. The protestant churches don't agree with the Catholics idolatry doctrine.

Answer 6

We live in a believing world. We do not all worship in the same way, but some form of religious faith is followed by millions of different people all over the world. Naturally, peoples beliefs and faiths affect their attitudes and actions. The history of the worlds different religions has often affected the history of nations themselves. Until we learn to respect each others beliefs, we are always gonna have religious conflicts. teach him this, and he will be a great man.

Answer 7

I went to a Catholic school and we did have some students there that were not Catholic, so I understand what you mean. My best friend is Jewish and her son grew up in an area that was predominantly white Christians, there were no other Jews around and it was harder for her to give him any sense of Jewish identity as there was no temple nearby. My son's best friend is Muslim and I think his parents are a little worried about his identity and faith too.
If I were you, I would instill your own faith in him strongly outside of school and take him to services, so that he gets a strong identity at home. From your question I can tell you are a person who wants their son to have a well rounded education and knowledge and tolerance of other faiths. I think he will be fine there but only if you build it strongly at home and send him for Muslim religous instruction either afterschool or on the weekend. If you have any reservations I would speak privately to his teacher or the dean of the school about them and tell them you do not want him "indoctrinated" and as long as you state it respectfully, they should respect your wishes. Some Christians can get very strong about "spreading the word"
I wish my own children were in a Catholic or Christian school, so I have to take them to class for that outside of school as I said and work Harder to instill their faith in them. I feel it is my duty as their mother to teach them.

Answer 8

My grandparents sent me to a religious preschool that is other than our religion. Thirty years later all I can recall was having lots fun singing, playing with the nuns and other kids. It might not be a bad thing. It will broaden his thinking. When he is at the right age teach him your religion and hopefully he will be more tolerance to other religions. If you catch wind that the school is trying to force him into believing one thing and only one thing then take him to a different school.

Answer 9

Tell him the basic!

And thank God bcos I live at Islamic country. No need to worry about christian school ( we still got christian schools at here ), but why u send him to that school if u worry with his faith? Now, you think who Allah will ask if ur son change his faith? And, who you should blame? His Christian's friends? Think it back!

Answer 10

Sorry, Im not Muslim but I think you answered your own question. That "we" are Muslim but other people believe in other religions which should be respected. The common theme and bottom line of all of them is to love.