Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of Jema’atu Nasril
Islam (JNI), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has declared street begging by
children, popularly known as Almajiri, unIslamic.
The Sultan spoke in Kaduna on Sunday while presiding over
the pre-Ramadan meeting of JNI’s Central Committee, held at the JNI
headquarters.
Sultan said the meeting was to discuss issues that affect
Muslims and Islam in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
On Almajiris, Sultan lamented that, “Almajiri 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,” he said.
The Sultan charged the government particularly at the state
level to prioritise welfare of their citizens to address hunger and poverty.
He also charged the state governments to strengthen
institution of ‘Zakkat’ and endowment to address wanton
By Wale Odunsi
