Almajiri is unIslamic, says Sultan Abubakar
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared street begging by children, popularly known as Almajiri, unIslamic.
He stated this at the weekend while presiding over the pre-Ramadan meeting of JNI’s central committee to set modalities and guidelines for moon sighting and general conduct for Muslims in holy month held at the JNI headquarters in Kaduna.
Sultan, who disclosed that Almajiri does not represent Islam, but hunger and poverty, also charged state governments to rise up to their responsibilities of ensuring good welfare of every citizen.
In his opening remarks, he said the meeting at the JNI headquarters would not only focus on how to deal with begging culture popular in the North, but also issues that are affecting Muslims and Islam in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
According to him: “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 of begging among Muslim faithful.”
He also charged the state governments to strengthen institution of ‘Zakkat’ and endowment to address wanton poverty.
Prominent traditional rulers and Islamic scholars were also in attendance at the meeting.
In the same vein, Secretary-General of JNI, Alhaji Khalid Aliyu, who spoke with journalists shortly after the event, said they are collaborating with government to ensure that children wandering around begging get adequate care.
“The Almajiris will be integrated into the mainstream schooling system just as there are other children who learn Arabic and are still going to school for formal education,” he added.
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