The Texas State Board of Education will now require high school social studies classes to teach about Mohammed’s taking of female captives as “harem slaves.” Friday’s vote to adopt the curriculum changes, which included other additions to the state-mandated curriculum on early Islam, came after objections from dozens of Muslim speakers.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 10, 2026
The Texas State Board of Education has approved a sweeping new high school social studies curriculum despite passionate objections from Muslim advocates, educators, and civil rights groups. At the center of the controversy is a lesson requiring students to study early Islam through references to Prophet Muhammad’s military campaigns, the normalization of slavery, and the taking of female captives described as “harem slaves.”
An 8–4 Vote After Heated Debate
The Republican-controlled board approved the revised standards by an 8–4 vote, rejecting multiple attempts to soften the wording. One proposed amendment would have removed the adjective “brutal” from references to Muhammad’s military campaigns, but it failed after supporters argued the language reflected historical events rather than religious bias.
The curriculum will apply to Texas public high schools beginning in 2030, affecting one of the nation’s largest public education systems.
Why Muslim Groups Objected
Dozens of Muslim parents, students, and community leaders testified during public hearings, arguing that the curriculum presents Islam almost exclusively through violence and slavery while portraying Christianity in a more favorable light. Critics say the standards risk encouraging stereotypes and making Muslim students feel targeted in classrooms.
Several curriculum experts appointed by the board also questioned whether portions of the language were supported by mainstream historical scholarship.
Supporters Say It’s About History
Supporters of the rewrite insist the lessons are intended to teach difficult historical realities, not attack a religion. Board members backing the changes argued that students should examine the historical expansion of Islam, the institution of slavery in different civilizations, and the role of jihad in world history as part of a broader study of global civilizations.
The revised standards also expand instruction on Christianity’s influence on Western civilization and American history, continuing a broader push by Texas education leaders to increase religious content in public schools.
National Debate Over Religion in Schools
The decision has intensified a nationwide debate over how public schools should teach religion and history. Civil rights organizations warn that the curriculum could blur the line between historical instruction and ideological messaging, while supporters argue that excluding controversial topics would amount to sanitizing history.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Texas has approved one of its most controversial curriculum revisions in years, setting the stage for continued legal, political, and educational battles before the standards reach classrooms in 2030. The dispute highlights the growing national struggle over how religion, history, and identity are presented in America’s public schools.
SOURCES: AP NEWS – State education board finalizes anti-Islamic rewrite of Texas social studies lessons
BREITBART NEWS – Texas Education Board Ignores Muslim Outcry, Approves Mohammad’s Harem Slaves Lesson
COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE – Texas education board adopts anti-Islam social studies standards
HOUSTON CHRONICLE – Texas education board OKs new high school curriculum over objections from Muslim advocates
