The Initiative For Inter-Religious Tolerance, better known as Nigerian Against Religious Divide (NIGARD)
is a Nigerian-membered Non-Governmental Organization that is working within the religious blocks of Christians and Muslims, to bring about conscientious rapport, understanding and respect necessary to build the dignity of tolerance and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.
It is within our mandate to publicly support the idea mooted by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, on the abrogation of the Almajiri system of Islamic education in Nigeria. It is our candid view, supported by 90% of our members, who are devoted Muslims and Christians, that the Almijiri system has become a social menacing problem than a religious one. It must be noted that Islamic education is very important, but Almijiri system is in serious violation of the doctrines and dictates of Islam. Allah never accepted parental recklessness or abandonment, as it is the primary responsibility of parents to keep and nurture their wards in the way of Allah. Almajiri system is nothing but a 21st Century slavery system of about a modest 10 Million Nigerian kids of ages between 5 and 15 years, under the heavy callous supervision of ‘Islamic teachers’ who simply use these kids to earn an unjust living. Almajiri system has become a profound illegal industry where talents and divine endowments of innocent kids are wasted, and the kids are severely exploited by the Mallams who steal the most productive years of the children in question.
These kids live in such abject poverty, and are forced to fend for the Mallams on the streets under very stringent circumstances of the elements, when actually they are hungry, malnourished and unhealthy. They literally become victims of all sorts of abuse and cruelty, many times losing their lives that seems worthless to their master and parents. In the process, good percentage of the kids result into petty stealing and public menacing. Some of them grow up so deprived and angry against the society that they just feel unwanted and worthless. Many also get so tough by being on the streets forever, that they take to serious criminal activities. In some other cases, they become a willing band of footsoldiers to the whims and caprices of their Mallams or his benefactor.
Here is what the Qur’an has to say;
“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are (appointed) angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded”. Qu’ran 66: 6
Teaching one’s family the religion of Islam and good behaviors is primarily a family responsibility. Prophet Mohammed PBUH said “It is an obligation for Muslims to teach his near family members, his male and female slaves what Allah has made obligatory for them and WHAT Allah has forbidden for them”. In a famous hadith, the Prophet said “Each and everyone of you is a shepherd, and therefore each shepherd shall give account of all underherds under his domain”
On the issue of begging, the Qur’an said “There shall be no begging except for the following conditions”;
- Individuals who is befallen by disaster of any sort.
- Overbearing burden of hardship and poverty, and
- Debtor willing to pay his debt.
It should be noted succinctly that no mention of Almajiri Islamic education in the above in regards to begging. The Qur’an also said “For those who beg, their faces shall appear chopped off in the day of judgment”.
It then becomes very obvious from the facts set out clearly above, that Almariranci (Almajiri) is NOT an Islamic injuction or doctrine. It is an absolute LIE to tie such menacing to Islam by Mallams who teaches such errors. It is also haram for parents to subject their kids to such social ills. Since it is not an Islamic doctrine, then it becomes a social problem that should concern every Nigerian irrespective of his/her religious persuasions. We must realize that our future gifts are being destroyed by a past that has gone into error.
To those who hide under the guise of Islamic perpetuation or education in support of Almajiri system, it is obvious they have other hidden agenda beyond Islam. The traditional Islamiya Schools with trained teachers, under a very conducive learning environment should suffice. It is our belief that if we had strenghten the Islamiya educational structure more, we would have improved tremendously, and make appreciable progress in Qur’anic and Western education altogether.
If Almajiri system is so Islamic in doctrine, why is it that in Arab nations, which are predominantly Islamic, you do not have street begging? Some nations have recently banned such social ills as Almajiri or Talibi altogether.
The reason why this practice is important in our nation Nigeria, is because the issue of Almajiri has been labelled a religious one when in actual fact it has no resonance to any religious persuasion. Those who still support it will never send their wards there, but they need the continuation of that system for personal gain and to perpetuate social class war.
It is therefore high time we killed that ridiculous anomaly called Almajiri system in Nigeria. It must be killed and NIGARD will be in the fore-front of that effort to set our children free from the slavery of the mind by the perpetrators of this evil industry. We will continue to educate Nigerians on other related religious issues.
SIGNED
Malam Hussaini Ibrahim
A NIGARD Spokesperson