Only for Muslims, education ministry clears the air over hadith module

The new subject module to be based on a collection of hadith or sayings of Prophet Muhammad is only intended for Muslim teachers and students, the education ministry said today following protests over reports that it would be introduced at schools nationwide.

It said the pilot programme for "Imam Al-Nawawi's 40 Hadith" would involve Muslim teachers and students at 61 government religious secondary schools and 228 government-aided religious secondary schools throughout the country.

"We hope that the initiative can bring forth a generation of good and intelligent children and uplift the values of human kindness based on the three main elements of manners, morals, and integrity," it said in a statement.

It was previously reported that the module would be implemented at government and government-aided religious secondary schools before being distributed to schools under the education ministry next year.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had said it was intended to foster values contained in the hadith compilation.

"I have no problem with the values in the hadith being brought to schools, and at the same time, we have a great commitment to see our Muslim children truly appreciate the 40 hadith," she reportedly said.

The move, however, drew protests, including from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism, which said the hadiths were part of the Islamic religion.

"There appears to be no provision in our Federal Constitution that allows such Islamic teachings in national-type schools. This may be carried out in Islamic religious schools," it said.