Controversy Erupts Over Islamic Homework Assignment in Hyderabad School

New Delhi, India Jul 16, 2026 ALN: A controversy has erupted over allegations that students of Class 2 were assigned to read Kalma and Surah Al-Fatiha—Islamic texts—as homework at Success The School, a private minority school in Hyderabad’s Saidabad. The incident has ignited a heated debate about religious education in schools, particularly in a diverse and multi-religious society like India, where the interplay between secular education and religious teachings often becomes a contentious issue.

The school is part of the Success group of Institutions run by Mohammad Irfan Ullah, which has been operational for several years and caters primarily to the local community. This group of institutions has often been praised for its educational standards but is now facing scrutiny due to the recent allegations. The controversy raises important questions about the role of private educational institutions in imparting religious education, especially in a country where the constitution mandates secularism.

Kalma, which refers to the fundamental declarations of faith in Islam, is a significant part of Islamic teaching, symbolizing the core beliefs of the religion. Similarly, Surah Al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quran, is recited in daily prayers and holds a central place in Islamic worship. The inclusion of such texts in a school’s curriculum can be seen as an effort to instill religious values among students, but in a multi-religious context, it can also lead to allegations of promoting a particular faith over others.

The aunt of a Hindu student staged a protest at the school on Wednesday, July 15, questioning the motive behind imparting religious teachings to young children. This protest reflects a broader concern among some communities about the potential for religious indoctrination in educational settings. The student’s family has not filed a police complaint, which could indicate a desire to resolve the matter through dialogue rather than legal avenues. However, the school took immediate action by terminating the teacher identified as Shaik Ayeesha Parveen following the incident. The termination letter stated that she stands “permanently disqualified” from any future employment in the school, suggesting that the administration is taking the allegations seriously.

The response from political parties has been swift and severe. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dubbed the incident as “Education Jihad,” framing it as part of a larger narrative of perceived threats to Hindu identity and values in India. The state BJP president Ramachander Rao also blamed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for the incident, alleging that the Congress party’s appeasement politics and statements like ‘Congress is Muslims and Muslims are Congress’ have emboldened “extremist elements.” This statement highlights the ongoing political polarization in India, where issues of religion and education are often leveraged for political gain.

Rao's comments reflect a growing concern among certain segments of the population about the influence of minority communities in public life and education. The BJP’s framing of the incident as a form of “Education Jihad” seeks to rally support among its base by portraying the situation as a direct threat to Hindu students. This rhetoric can exacerbate communal tensions, further complicating the already delicate balance of religious coexistence in India.

“The Congress government has turned a blind eye, exposing its complete lack of concern for Hindu students and their families. The Bharatiya Janata Party not only strongly condemns this incident but also demands an immediate and impartial investigation and strict action against everyone responsible,” Ramachander Rao wrote on X. This call for an investigation underscores the political stakes involved in the incident, as it could have implications for the ruling party's standing among its constituents.

The controversy has also drawn the attention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization closely associated with the BJP. The RSS had plans to stage a protest outside the school on Thursday, July 16, but could not proceed due to police detaining their workers. This incident raises questions about the role of law enforcement in managing public protests and the potential for political influence in policing decisions.

“I was arrested by the police at Success School and taken to Kanchanbagh Police Station simply for asking why an FIR has not yet been registered in connection with the allegations regarding religious activities at the school, and why there appears to be an attempt to suppress the case. This raises a serious question: Why are the police allegedly extending support to those accused of promoting religious conversion? The law must be applied fairly and impartially, without fear or favour,” said Karunasagar, an RSS member and former BJP Legal Cell convenor. This statement reflects a growing frustration among some political groups regarding the perceived bias of law enforcement in handling communal issues, suggesting a lack of confidence in the impartiality of the justice system.

The implications of this incident extend beyond the immediate controversy surrounding the homework assignment. It highlights the ongoing struggle within Indian society to reconcile the principles of secularism with the realities of a diverse population that holds varying beliefs. Educational institutions play a crucial role in shaping young minds, and the question of how to approach religious education in a secular framework is one that continues to provoke debate.

Moreover, the incident may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. If the backlash against the school leads to stricter regulations on religious education in private institutions, it could impact how minority communities are able to impart their cultural and religious practices to younger generations. Conversely, a failure to address the concerns raised by the protest could lead to increased tensions and a perception of discrimination against Hindu students in minority-run schools.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Islamic homework assignment at Success The School serves as a microcosm of the broader societal and political dynamics at play in India today. As the nation grapples with questions of identity, education, and religious freedom, the outcomes of this incident could have lasting effects on community relations and the future of educational policy in a country marked by its diversity.