How can parents deal with school assignments that involve movies or books with un-Islamic values? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a required school assignment contains content that conflicts with your family’s Islamic values, it can feel like a difficult dilemma. The best approach is to engage with the situation proactively and thoughtfully, turning it into a valuable learning experience. 

Discuss the Content Critically with Your Child 

Before making any decisions, engage with the material yourself and then have a calm discussion with your child. Ask guiding questions like, ‘What do you think the main message of this story is? Do you notice anything in it that feels different from our family’s beliefs?’ This encourages critical thinking over passive consumption and makes the assignment a lesson in applying an Islamic worldview. 

Communicate Respectfully with the School 

Contact the teacher privately to explain your concerns in a polite and collaborative manner. You can say, ‘We have some concerns about the content in this assignment as it conflicts with our religious values. We would love to support our child’s learning, so we were hoping to discuss a possible alternative assignment that meets the same educational goals’. Schools are often very accommodating when approached with respect and a desire for partnership. 

Use it to Teach Discernment, Not Isolation 

If an alternative is not possible, guide your child to complete the assignment from an analytical perspective. Help them to critique the problematic themes in their work, for example, by writing, ‘While the film presents this behaviour as normal, from an Islamic perspective, it would be considered harmful because…’. This teaches them how to engage with challenging ideas while confidently holding firm to their own principles. 

By handling these situations with wisdom, you can protect your child’s faith while simultaneously supporting their academic growth and strengthening their moral compass. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to engage with the world with confidence in our values, and to stand up for what is right in a wise and measured way. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 110: 

‘ (O Muslims) You are the better nation, developed (as an example) for mankind; by promoting that which is positive (in its outcome) and forbidding that which is negative (in its outcome)…’ 

This verse reminds us that as Muslims, our role is not to withdraw from society, but to engage with it while upholding our moral and spiritual principles. Handling a problematic school assignment with wisdom is a modern-day application of this responsibility. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave us a clear methodology for addressing wrongdoing. 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, 4340, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever among you sees something wrong should change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart and that is the weakest of faith.‘ 

This hadith provides a practical framework. Politely speaking with a teacher to request an alternative assignment (“with his tongue”) is a strong and appropriate way to address the issue. It is a proactive step that fulfils our duty as believers to stand for our principles in a respectful manner.