RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has reportedly revised several religious references in its latest school textbooks.
The reported changes involve passages concerning Jews, Christians, and other religious communities. The revisions have attracted international attention.
According to reports, Saudi Arabia removed several references viewed as hostile toward other faiths. The changes reportedly appear in updated educational materials.
One reported revision involves a hadith about end-times events. The narration described Muslims fighting and killing Jews.
The hadith had previously appeared in Saudi educational material. It is reportedly absent from the latest version of the curriculum.
Another change reportedly appears in a Grade 7 Social Studies textbook. The updated edition no longer includes a hadith concerning Jews and the afterlife.
The earlier passage had been interpreted as suggesting that Jews were destined for Hell. Its reported removal marks a change in the treatment of religious differences.
Further revisions were reportedly found in a Grade 7 Life and Family Skills textbook. An earlier edition included a hadith about Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism.
The passage described those religions as false. The reference has reportedly been removed from the revised edition.
These changes have drawn praise from a senior US State Department official. Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun welcomed the reported curriculum reforms.
Kaploun serves as the US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. He described the changes as part of broader reform efforts.
He linked the developments to greater tolerance, coexistence, and moderation. He also referenced the wider regional goals associated with the Abraham Accords.
The reported revisions followed research by Israeli think tank IMPACT-se. The organization reviewed 136 Saudi textbooks published between 2024 and 2026.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia removed most themes considered problematic toward Jews and Christians. The study described the changes as significant curriculum reforms.
The reported updates include the removal of antisemitic language. They also include lessons promoting coexistence between different religious communities.
Another reported change involves language comparing Jews and Christians to disabled animals. That reference was also reportedly removed.
The reforms have been linked to Saudi Vision 2030. The initiative includes broader social and economic transformation goals.
However, the reported changes do not indicate a complete shift in Saudi policy toward Israel. Some references concerning Israel reportedly remain unchanged.
Saudi textbooks reportedly continue to describe Israel as an occupying power. They also reportedly do not recognize Israel as a state.
This suggests the curriculum changes are focused mainly on religious tolerance. They do not necessarily represent a broader change in Saudi Arabia’s position on Israel.
The reports have raised questions about the direction of Saudi education reforms. The changes could signal a stronger focus on moderation and coexistence.
However, Saudi Arabia removed the reported references according to external reviews. The kingdom has not yet issued an official explanation for the revisions.
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Further details may emerge if Saudi authorities formally address the curriculum changes. For now, the reported reforms continue to attract international attention.
