A CRITICAL EXAMINATION ON THE LEGALITY OF THE ALMAJIRI EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM UNDER ISLAMIC LAW

ABSTRACT The practice of Taqleed, which in Shariah rule means ‘to follow the Mujtahidun religious law, the Mujtahid should have expertise in the Islamic doctrine and be of upright character’, is what the Almajiri educational system is based on. It used to be a prestigious programme that turned out notable academics and powerful policymakers. All parties involved expressed their support and unity for it, and it helped the country to achieve remarkable success in the areas of economy, social development, literacy and diplomacy among other areas. But when the British came and took control of the government, it lost its significance and religious and traditional institutions were pushed to the sidelines. As a result, the integrity of the system has been compromisedby numerous types of corruption. The system’s Mallams and students have been linked to a number of societal issues, prompting appeals for its abolition. The purpose of this study is to investigate the legitimacy of the Almajiri educational system in Northern Nigeria in light of Islamic law. The study’s objective is to determine whether the Almajiri education system in Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna state, is permitted by Islamic Law. The doctrinal research approach was used in the study. The Almajiri system has several major problems, including inadequate government support, scarce financial resources and bad policies. Nonetheless, the report suggests that Almajiri schools be immediately upgraded, that skill sets be added to their curricula, that the school’s facilities be supervised and maintained, and that Almajiri pupils be awarded scholarships that include comfortable living quarters for the Mallams. Key words: Almajiri, Legality, Education, Mallam