If you must beg, beg govt not individuals – Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Saturday advised people who beg for alms or other forms of assistance from individuals and relatives to rather direct their begging to the government.

Sanusi gave the advice at the National Conference on Alarammomi (Qur’anic Teachers) organised by Centre for Qur’anic Reciters in Nigeria with the theme: “Sanitising Almajirchi In Tune With Today’s Realities”.

He urged parents to stop sending their children to Almajiri schools, maintaining that children could study the Qur’an, at there schools and with the teachers in their respective communities.

The emir said that if sending children to such schools become necessary, then parents must send them with all the necessary provisions to ensure their wellbeing and welfare.

According to him, it is wrong for parents to send their children away without proper arrangements and necessary provisions, as the children will end up begging for food and alms.

Mr Sanusi, who quoted verses from the Holy Qur’an and Hadith, said whoever begs, would resurrect on the day of judgment without flesh on his face.

He, therefore, urged husbands to see it as God-given duty to feed their wives and children adequately in order for them not to resort to begging for alms and assistance from individuals or relatives.

“Begging is disallowed in Islam and if you must beg for alms beg the government, not individuals or relatives.

“It is better for you to cut firewood and sell to earn a living than to beg.

“Those who beg or seek assistance from individuals will be resurrected on the day of judgement without meat/flesh on their faces.

“And if you must beg, then beg the government, not individuals or relatives. This is because they should be responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of citizens.

“Individuals, relatives or neighbours can assist you as gestures of kindness and generosity, but that’s not necessary.

“So, those who are saying that begging is not prohibited in Islam are just misleading you,” Sanusi said.

The emir, therefore, urged government at all levels on social protection programmes in order to check such menaces in society.

“Programmes like cash transfer and many more can assist in tackling these problems. So, we urge the government to sustain the cash transfer programme and come up with many more,” the emir said.