Stop Expulsion Of Almajiris, Prophet Muhammad Against It – Islamic Group Tells Northern Govs

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Friday criticized the current expulsion of almajiris from the various Northern States to their States of origin due to the spread of COVID-19.

It said the expulsion of almajiris by State governments was wrongly-timed.

MURIC urged Northern governors to postpone the expulsion of almajiris until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

The group made the call in a statement signed and sent to us by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

MURIC stated that the world would have been a better place if the teachings of Prophet Muhammad were adhered to by the people.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, several States have been repatriating almajiris from their States.

However, MURIC in a statement said:

“Many states of the North have been expelling large numbers of almajiris back to their states of origin in recent times. For example, on April 21st, 2020, Kano expelled 432 almajiris to Katsina, 63 to Yobe, 198 to Kaduna, etc.

Expectedly, the Northern states are beginning to take responsibility and there is every reason to believe that plans are already on ground to take good care of those almajiris on arrival in their home states. The motive behind it is commendable.

“However, the expulsions have coincided with the COVID-19 outbreak and this is our first concern. The children are being exposed to great danger.

To make matters worse, significant numbers of these almajiris are testing positive to coronavirus thereby swelling the COVID-19 caseloads of their receiving states and making the management of this global pandemic more difficult for Nigerian authorities.

Unfortunately, some of these almajiris are also escaping to southern states, potentially spreading COVID-19 to every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

“It is clear that the concerned Northern States appeared to have acted without consulting Islamic scholars who are at their beck and call. Islam opposes the idea of leaving a city under a plague attack.


The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned that ‘If a plague breaks out in a city and you are living there, do not leave it. And if you are about to enter a city and there is a plague there, do not enter there’