ALMAJIRI IS NOT MEANT FOR ALMS BEGGING. By YUSUF ALHAJI YUSUF Almajiri is a Hausa word that refers to itinerant children in search of knowledge or Quranic education. It is a system of Islamic education practiced in northern Nigeria. Also, it was derived from an Arabic word, rendered "Al-Muhajirun" meaning a person who leaves his home in search of Islamic knowledge. During the precolonial era, Almajiri was formerly called Tsangaya. It was established under the Kanem Borno Empire, one of the oldest ruling empires in the world extending from the frontiers of northern Nigeria across the Chadian region up to the borders of Libya. It was established as an organized and comprehensive system of education for learning Islamic principles, values, jurisprudence and ultimately the recitation and memorization of the glorious Quran which became Islamic learning centres in all Muslim communities. It is a worthy of note that the syst...
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