The Government is to investigate reports that a manual used in prisons to teach inmates about Islam risks turning people into jihadis.

The Ministry of Justice told Christian Today it is to look into claims that The Tarbiyah Programme "Islam to Iman" could encourage violence.

Sheikh Musa Admani of London's City University told the BBC the programme, in use since 2011, should be withdrawn.

In a section on jihad the programme says taking up arms to fight evil is "one of the noblest acts".

In this section, the imam is asked to discuss with prisoners the difference between "internal jihad", or the struggle for self improvement, and "external jihad", the struggle against enemies of Allah.

The manual says: "There may necessitate a time to pick up arms and physical fight such evil. It is one of the noblest acts." This is followed by a vese the Koran.

Sheikh Admani said: "This document sets out the steps and then addresses various forms of jihad and then goes on to emphasise a particular type ie the killing and the fighting. It incites people to take up arms. It prepares people for violence. It could turn people when they come out of prison, supposedly rehabilitated, back into violence."

The Ministry of Justice last year appointed Ian Acheson to carry out an investigation into extremism and radicalisation in prisons.

A spokesperson said: "Islamist extremism is one of the biggest threats facing this country. That is why the Justice Secretary commissioned the first ever review of Islamist extremism in prisons. As we have made clear, the report has been received and a summary document will be published in due course."

The full report cannot be published for security reasons. 

The ministry pledged to investigate the issues raised by the BBC.