Brand new and brightly colored: a book for use in courses on Islam in German schools. There are plans to adopt the textbook as part of a curriculum available throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
North Rhine-Westphalia is preparing a state-wide expansion of a pilot curriculum that introduces pupils to Islam. Students heading back to school on Thursday (23.08.2012) may soon have a new textbook: "Miteinander auf dem Weg" (On the Way Together).
The book's publisher claims it is the first textbook of its kind on the topic, presenting both facts and cultural norms and values. But Islam expert Michael Kiefer calls that marketing hype.
"We already have quite a few textbooks that look at Islam from an insider's perspective," Kiefer said, adding that what's new in "Miteinander auf dem Weg" is its detailed drawings and illustrations.
In textbooks for first and second graders whose reading skills will be very limited, incorporating strong visual elements is key, Kiefer said. The new publication offers colorful, approachable images in which protagonists Sarah and Bilal lead pupils through a slice of daily life that they can understand.
Kiefer considers the inter-religious segment of the book especially well executed.
"Our intention was to create a textbook about Islam that can be supported by everyone," said publisher and author Mouhanad Khorchide. He noted that many in Germany's Muslim community hoped to see traditional Islam presented in the book.
Along with six additional authors, including members of Germany's four largest Islamic associations, Khorchide tried to incorporate the wishes of scholars, community groups, parents and students. The many tensions between traditionalism and modernity made compromises necessary, including in the depictions of Sarah, Bilal and other students in the book.
"The Muslim community would like to see the teacher wear a headscarf. But that is forbidden in Germany," Khorchide noted. The authors skirted the issue by using a male teacher.
Religion and reality
Mouhanad Khorchide, who leads the Center for Islamic Theology in Münster, will continue to deal with the conflicts that arise between tradition and modernity, state and religion. For example, his book claims that Muslims can pray to Allah everywhere they please - from a religious perspective. But German courts have issued rulings that would infringe on that right.
"Miteinander auf dem Weg" for first and second grade students is intended as the start of a series that would accompany Muslim pupils all the way through the final year of high school. There are also plans to produce corresponding materials for teachers. But the new curriculum has not yet been approved. Only then can the title "Miteinander auf dem Weg" be accepted by educational authorities as a textbook.
Date 20.08.2012
Author Ulrike Hummel / gsw
Deutsche Welle
