A message advising Muslim parents how not to participate in a school nativity play is being shared on WhatsApp.

A part of the message which has been forwarded by several parents features a letter which is several years old and was first seen on a forum in 2013.

The message states, “My son brought a letter home from school last week about whether he wanted to participate in the nativity play.

“Even though the letter would exempt the child from participation unless signed I feel it is still important to raise awareness of this to parents. "Many parents normally say "they are just children" and that's exactly the problem…The pure innocent naive child. ..

“One of the parents asked my wife whether we signed for participation and when my wife said no she was taken aback asking why. .

“I didn't think much of it until the following was forwarded on another group.

“'Alhamdullillaah I managed to remove my children from the Christmas play.

“Apparently this has been a first since the school opened and shockingly there is a ratio of at least 50% Muslims there. However this awakened the other parents and now the majority of them have withdrawn their children from the Christmas play."

The message then lists a response by one parent who did not wish to take part in a nativity play.

People are then asked to use this an example when referring to questions by schools on nativity.

But the text does not mention that this is an old message from several years ago.

It begins, "Dear Mrs________, “This is a polite notification that I am withdrawing my child's participation in the Christmas nativity play as this goes against Islamic creed.

“As Muslims we believe that Jesus is a Prophet and not the son of God. In Islamic ethos, participation in any activity that contradicts this is not legal in our religion.

“We understand and acknowledge multiculturalism, hence why we encourage our children to learn diverse beliefs and to respect them."