A Kenyan publisher has made the decision to withdraw a school book that featured a drawing of Prophet Muhammad, following immense backlash from Muslim leaders and parents. The individuals who voiced their concerns argued that it was blasphemous to depict the prophet and request that students color in the illustration. Mentor Publishing Company, the publisher responsible for the book on Islamic studies for second-grade students, expressed regret for the “grave” mistake. With Muslims comprising approximately 11% of Kenya’s population, the depiction of Prophet Muhammad is known to cause significant offense due to the Islamic tradition explicitly prohibiting such imagery.
Controversy arose when a Muslim scholar from Mombasa, Sheikh Rishard Rajab Ramadhan, declared that the book was dangerously leading young children astray. He emphasized the fact that drawing Prophet Muhammad is strictly forbidden and can potentially ignite conflict, even going as far as implying that it could lead to war. In response, the publisher issued an apology to the Muslim community and acknowledged that the image had been inadvertently included in the book, with the mistaken identification of it as the likeness of Prophet Muhammad.
Mentor Publishing Company announced that they would promptly remove the offensive drawing from all future editions of the book. They also expressed their commitment to collaborate with the Muslim Education Council in order to review all of their publications. Additionally, the publisher advised all teachers, students, and school administrators in possession of copies of the book to return them. While Mr. Ramadhan welcomed the recall of the book, he emphasized the importance of consulting Muslim leaders prior to publishing any Islamic educational materials.
Religious studies are an integral part of the Kenyan school curriculum, and this incident has brought attention to the ongoing controversy surrounding depictions of Prophet Muhammad, particularly in Europe. In recent years, there have been several instances where the use of cartoons or images of the Prophet has led to violent incidents or protests. In 2020, a school teacher in Paris, France, named Samuel Paty, was beheaded after displaying cartoons of Prophet Muhammad during a lesson on freedom of speech. Similarly, in 2021, a teacher in Batley, United Kingdom, faced suspension after showing an “inappropriate” cartoon of the Prophet, which sparked protests from Muslim parents. The teacher was eventually reinstated after an investigation concluded that no offense was intended by showing the image.
While there is no direct prohibition in the Quran against depicting Prophet Muhammad, Muslims generally believe that this taboo extends to him as well, based on the reference to not representing Allah. This incident in Kenya serves as a reminder of the sensitivity surrounding religious imagery and the importance of consulting with appropriate religious authorities when creating educational materials on religious subjects. By acknowledging their mistake, apologizing, and taking immediate action to rectify the situation, Mentor Publishing Company has demonstrated their commitment to respecting the religious beliefs of their readership and fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
