Almajiri System, Unislamic, Says Sultan

John Shiklam

The President-General of Jema’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Sultan of Sokoto , Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday declared that the Almajiri system as being practised today is unislamic.

Almajiri is a system where some parents send young children to distance places to learn the Qur’an but end up as beggars and street urchins, especially in the North.

Speaking while presiding over the pre-Ramadan meeting of JNI’s Central Committee in Kaduna, the Sultan said almajiri does not represent Islam but hunger and poverty.

According to him, almajiri was among the issues to be discussed at the meeting, because “it does not represent Islam, but hunger and poverty.

“Almajiri system of begging is not representing Islam and must therefore be distinguished from Islam. Islam encourages scholarship and entrepreneurship and frowns at laziness and idleness as exemplified by itinerant almajiri.

“Therefore, attempt must be made to stop the practice almajiri system of begging among Muslim faithfuls,” the Sultan said.

While noting that hunger and poverty are responsible for children begging on the streets, the Sultan charged the government, particularly at the state level to prioritise welfare of their indigenes to address hunger and poverty.

He said the meeting is held annually to set modalities and guidelines for moon sighting and the general conduct of Muslims during the month of Ramadan.