Some parents were upset when students at a high school in Minnesota were made to sing a Muslim song praising Allah during a holiday concert last week.
The concert featured students of Blaine High School. One of the songs they sang, titled "Eid un Sa'Eid," was about the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that includes the phrase "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great," according to Fox News and WCCO.
Other religious songs were performed, including Christian and Jewish tunes.
But with the apparently growing sentiment against Islam in the United States, some parents said the inclusion of an Islamic song praising "Allah" was unwise.
A parent of a student posted the controversial lyrics of the song on Facebook, which read:
"All over the world / Under the big-blue sky / Muslims unite to worship Allah / It's a time of brotherhood, a time of peace / Muslims are singing praises to Allah /
"Allahu Akbar / Allahu Akbar / La Ilaaha Illa-Allahu / Allahu Akbar / Allahu Akbar / Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd
"Families are gathering / Remembering Allah / And that his love is the greatest by far / All praise for you Allah.
"No child should be forced to sing a song about the Muslims and the religion of hatred," wrote one commenter.
Another wrote, "Wow, they don't even celebrate Christmas or anything related to that. PLUS, anyone who sticks up for singing this song think about the fact that people of Muslim religion would not agree to sing any song [with] reference [to] Jesus."
Another parent told WCCO that singing a song about Allah was "insensitive," considering the shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, California.
In its defence, the Anoka- Hennepin School District said they have students from different backgrounds and culture and they promote equal opportunity for students.
"Songs are not performed in a worship setting or to promote religion but rather in [an] educational setting where students are learning and performing music," it said.
The district has received complaints about the song and said those who didn't want to perform were not obligated. Their grade would not be affected as well, it said.
