James Harper, Grand Junction High School Student, Quits Choir In Protest Over Plans To Sing Islamic Song 'Zikr' (VIDEO)

When a Grand Junction High School men's choir made plans to sing an Islamic song called "Zikr," an upbeat rhythmic song that is not intended for a worship ceremony, one high school senior quit the choir in protest, 7News reports. But, the school district is siding with the music teacher.

James Harper, a Grand Junction High School senior and Christian active in his local church, was part of the all volunteer high school choir until his instructor Marcial Wieland made plans to sing "Zikr" which has lyrics that translate from the original Urdu to, "There is no truth except Allah" and "Allah is the only eternal and immortal," according to Fox News. The student choir sings the song in the original Urdu.

Harper told KREX in Grand Junction:

I don’t want to come across as a bigot or a racist, but I really don’t feel it is appropriate for students in a public high school to be singing an Islamic worship song. This is worshipping another God, and even worshipping another prophet -- I think there would be a lot of outrage if we made a Muslim choir say Jesus Christ is the only truth.

However, district officials defended the teacher's song choice. Wieland, who understood there could be objections to the song was open with the parents and students when making the selection telling them that students do not have to participate in the voluntary choir if they object, according to CBS4. Wieland also passed around an English translation of the lyrics and encouraged them to view the YouTube video below which features the music, written by Muslim composer A.R. Rahman.

WATCH A.R. Rahman's "Zikr" below:

Comments

[Donovan William Asselin]

01:22 PM on 04/30/2012

He is free to do whatever he likes... But the ignorance is sad...

[Pho3n1xSun]

02:23 PM on 02/27/2012

you know what I'll just say this he is free to express is objections and not participate if he so chooses. if he feels this is not something he would like to do, then he may go ahead. Freedom of Religion. BUT the teacher has made it clear to parents and students alike so if they feel the same way as this kid and haven't said or done anything about it, their decision. they had the opportunity. I am not getting into a Religious debate about this. so if anyone does reply to my comment with that, you can discuss it amongst each other. bye

[Greg Finkel]

02:14 PM on 02/23/2012

School administration must be dismissed and prosecuted for promoting foreign cult and brainwashing students. I am surprised parents are quiet and ACLU (American Criminal Liberty Union) has not stepped up, as it used to do, if Christian songs are sung in American schools.

[Malak123]

08:53 AM on 02/23/2012

I applaud you for being obedient and not breaking the commandment of not worshipping other Gods. Regardless of what people have to say about this, God is who you have to answer to when you stand before Him.

[im42n8]

08:32 PM on 02/22/2012

While the Muslims promote "Allah" as the same God as worshipped by Christians and Jews, it isn't so. A quick comparison of the portrayal of Allah in the Quran to God in the Bible or Torah will quickly disillusion anyone that Allah is the same as God. There is absolutely NO way the muslim god Allah is the same as the God of Abraham. The God "Allah" that muslims worship is derived from their worship of the Moon. In fact, "Allah" was a word from that region of the world where most arabs are today that was generic for "God." The teacher of this school should consider not only the rhythm and melody of selected music but the meaning of the words too before deciding if the selected song is appropriate. Songs that are appropriate for childrens gatherings, for instance, would NOT necessarily be appropriate to drinking parties. In this case, it's about promoting a violent ideology that denigrates other religions. This song has lyrics that imply that. Understanding Islam is also important in recognizing what the lyrics mean. Anyone NOT knowing anything about Islam may assume it has the same "loving" and accepting basis of their own religion when, in fact, the exact opposite is the case. The teacher and those supporting him are dead wrong in this case ... tho they may have meant well. Their ignorance is most unfortunate.

[Fordfan]

08:43 AM on 02/20/2012

James Harper, you truly have a back bone that most so called Christian Americans lack!
Praying for this dying country.

[CognitoErgoSum]

10:00 PM on 02/18/2012

I can't believe that there are still people who don't know that Allah is just the Arabic word for the God of Abraham, the SAME God worshipped by Jews and Christians. I mean, when Arab CHRISTIANS pray in Arabic, they would say "Allah."

[urownexperience]

08:28 PM on 02/18/2012

This so funnY! All the Christians praising him, while ten minutes ago they were chastising the poor girl who had the banner taken down. How do you spell HYPOCRITE?

[urownexperience]

08:25 PM on 02/18/2012

Best advice for this young man is to find a quiet plot of ground, dig a hole and build an underground bunker, buy lots of ammunition and caned carrots, read his bible, and clean his gu_ns.

[gibraltar]

07:39 PM on 02/18/2012

I was in a very good High school choir ,and my daughter directs an award winning high school vocal program. Some of the most beautiful songs I sang were hymns. Many were not from my chosen religion big deal they were beautiful and taught me something about music not religion. There are many great secular songs too. Some people are just looking for a fight. I'm sure the kid is a hero with his church. Unless the teacher was only having kids sing Islamic songs rather than a wide range. This is just more Islamophobic crap.

[MTruth]

08:59 AM on 02/23/2012

@gibraltar Let me start off by saying that I am not religious & that all religions are based on myth. Music/prayers/mantras can be seductive to the brain & enter in to the subconscious mind without people questioning the meaning of or purpose of those who direct or lead people to except & be put under mind control by self-proclaimed superiors. You are coming from a frame of reference that Islam is a religion not to be feared when in fact you do not know at this very moment there are 35 Islamic terrorist training camps within the USA & that Isam is practicing treason in this country & abroad by lying about their intent. In Islam it is called taqiyya watch the film “The 3rd Jihad & “Islam what the West Needs to Know.” Creeping Sharia http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/ (Go to top of page & click on tab that says videos & sign up for their e-mail list & you will see the whole picture.
Europe & Americus is their cry for war & are going to win if we do not stop appeasing them. They are beyond being just a religion they are a governance body of Sharia Law(look at pictures on line) They are a practicing treasonous governance. Obama let in almost 80,000 Muslim immigrants in to this country in 2011. Obama needs to be voted out of office & all Mosque need to be closed for they are proven terrorist incubators & the Muslims sent back to an Islamic

[Greg Finkel]

02:20 PM on 02/23/2012

Why islam represents grave denger to America:
Islam is incompatible with Western culture, history, judicial system, and civilization. Remember, our judicial system based on Judeo-Christian values. Islam objects these values and Koran calls for extermination of Christians and Jews. Muslims objective is creation of global Caliphate and establishing Shariah Law. All this eventually leads to civil war, unless we will take care and deport all muslims from US and Europe. Look what is going in Britain, France and other countries where muslims clear declared their primary objective to overcome current social systems and replace it with Sharia law. Read below confessions of leading muslims.

Omar Ahmad Co-founder of the Council of American-Islamic Relations:
"Those who stay in America should be open to society without melting, keeping Mosques open so anyone can come and learn about Islam. If you choose to live here, you have a responsibility to deliver the message of Islam ... Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."

[Stacy Ann Tucker]

04:20 PM on 02/18/2012

Zikr is a religious song. If it was one of an assortment of religious songs as a tribute to world religions, I could understand using it. However, I would understand the student's objections even in that case. If he feels strongly about his faith, I could see him feeling uncomfortable singing words of fait from another religion. I bet many Muslim children would object to singing "Yes, Jesus Loves Me, the Bible Tells Me So".

[Doug Sandlin]

05:11 PM on 02/18/2012

Kids of all religions often sing Christian songs if they participate in their public high school's choir -- performances of Handel's Messiah are quite common, for instance.

And so, Muslim kids, as well as kids from other non-Christian religions; atheist kids, etc., all sing those Christian songs ... and I've never heard of anyone other than a Christian, or sometimes an atheist, walking out or complaining about a song.

(I'm an atheist, and I have no problem with religious content, in songs -- religious songs in contexts such as this, or as sung when performing Handel's Messiah, etc. are about the songs -- not about the religion.)

[eelisabethsmith]

05:59 PM on 02/18/2012

The only problem is, remove any remotely religious songs from the public school system, and you've not got that many left to sing. Why not foster an attitude of openness to all, or at least respectful appreciation, and just enjoy the music?

[Stacy Ann Tucker]

06:08 PM on 02/18/2012

But why force kids to sing songs that say things that are contrary to their faith? Is that fair?

[SouthStJo]

03:22 PM on 02/18/2012

While it's for completely different reasons .....I do agree with him.
The song isnt appropriate due to its lyrics, and I would say the same if it was Silent Night.

There are plenty of other good urdu songs to chose from.

[dnelsonh]

03:22 PM on 02/18/2012

Hymns and prayers do not belong in Public schools.

[dnelsonh]

03:17 PM on 02/18/2012

Why are hymns being sung in a public school? If you think this is about "which" religion you are wrong. I think the kid sees this point. The song is a hymn denying any other belief , for instance atheism.

[trythetruthtoday]

02:15 PM on 02/18/2012

This young man shows wisdom and courage far beyond his age, he stands up for what he believes in.

[CognitoErgoSum]

10:05 PM on 02/18/2012

Except that he believes that Allah is a different deity from the God Christians and Jews worship when it's just the Arabic word for God. Standing up for falsehood is NOT wisdom.

[trythetruthtoday]

07:07 PM on 02/22/2012

Allah is the Arabic word for father.
God has a Son, His name is Jesus, He is the only way to the Father.
Allah has no son.