1.1  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Almajiri refers to a person who migrates from the luxury of his home to other place or to popular teaching in the quest for Islamic knowledge. It is hinged on the Islamic concept of migration which is widely practiced especially when acquisition of knowledge at home is either inconvenient or insufficient. Imam Shafi’I is the greatest proponent of migration for seeking knowledge which he said is nothing unless it is mind and transported away form its soil. He summarized everything in two verses. Emigrate from your home in quest of excellence, good manners and friendship with famous. Shafi’I himself was born in Gaza. He travelled almost the entire middle east seeking in knowledge until finally he settles in Egypt.

With the coming of Islam to Hausa land in 14th century. Qur’anic education started and wage of Sokoto jihad was carried out in the early 19th Century. Qur’anic school in Hausa land are usually located in mosque or the urban centers than the rural areas. Generally there are two types of qur’anic teachers stay in one place and educate the children in the locality in which they live.

In this system of learning Qur’anic schools of Almajiri are usually entrusted in the care of learned person “Malam” were it is hoped that they would have the necessary concentration and learning atmosphere. Abraham and Canhan (1978) noted that toward the end of 19th century when movement of people in the northern Nigeria in particular became less dangerous.

Alamin (1987) emphasis the Islamic learning started in the “Malam” settlement were the student and their teachers gathered to make Qur’anic lessons. When the british conquered Sokoto in the year 1903 and subsequently introduce the western types of education, Qur’anic schools continued even through the colonial government deal not to finance such schools.