BEVERLY HILLS, May 21, (THEWILL) – The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared that the Almajiri system largely practised in Northern Nigeria is not Islamic but only represents hunger and poverty.
Speaking at a pre-Ramadan meeting on Sunday in Kaduna, the sultan stressed that attempts must be made to stop the practice and its association with the Islam faith insisting that Islam frowns at laziness but encourages scholarship and entrepreneurship.
The sultan appealed to the government, particularly at the state level to prioritise welfare of their citizens in the bid to address hunger and poverty and urged them to strengthen the institution of Zakkat (almsgiving) to address poverty.
“Almajiri does not represent Islam, but hunger and poverty. Almajiri system of begging is not representing Islam and must therefore be distinguished from Islam,” the Sultan said.
“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.”
