The unfortunate situation of the 9.5 million northern Muslim youths wasting away as almajiris in the 21st century is uncalled for.
With the modern Islamiya system of teaching children the Glorious Qur’an and Islamic education, where they gain these at home is far much better. These pupils attain both western education and the Qur’anic studies without being beggars and victims of societal ills. Their responsible parents not only cater for them but pay for the Islamic knowledge they obtain.
In the old method (almajiri), the parents are not responsible for the welfare and educational cost of their children. These innocent and poor lads are driven away or thrown away in the streets of distant cities. They often end up without Qur’anic education. They waste their youths suffering and begging but surely not reading/studying the Qur’an.
The sooner we Muslims in the North accept the reality the better it will be for our religion, region, youths and future.
Dr Saidu S. Msheliza can be reached via saidu.kida@gmail.com
