In a statement discussing the issue, the Ministry of Education said it had instructed schools to distribute the book — titled “Fiqh and Behavior” — which had attracted widespread condemnation as one of its authors is Sheikh Yousuf Al-Ahmad.
Al-Ahmad, a former lecturer at Imam Saud University, stoked controversy earlier this year when he called for the Grand Mosque in Makkah to be demolished and rebuilt in a circular shape to prevent the mixing of the sexes. Al-Ahmad also led a campaign against employing women as cashiers at supermarkets.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education said the new curriculum does not include the personal opinion of its authors or reviewers, and that the names of authors are only published in the books to appreciate their efforts. Muhammad Al-Dikhaini, spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said all books are prepared and written in accordance with the standards set by the Saudi curriculum, and in line with scholars approved by specialized committees. Authors are also selected following recommendations set by two committees comprising officials and academics.
The statement said religious books are based on the Qur’an and Sunnah and what is mentioned in authentic and specialist books that have been approved by scholars. No reference was made to Al-Ahmad in the statement. Al-Ahmad was unavailable for comment both on Friday and Saturday. He, however, told a media outlet on Thursday that he had been officially assigned to edit the book through Imam Saud University and that it took six years to complete.
