Residents of Basirka town in Jigawa State trooped out in large numbers for a three-day special prayer for rainfall following a prolonged dry spell that has left farmlands withering.
The prayers began on Saturday and continued on Sunday and Monday, with residents also observing a voluntary fast on Monday to seek the intervention of Almighty Allah.
The special prayers were held at the Eid ground in Basirka town, Gwaram Local Government Area, where hundreds of residents converged to seek divine intervention.
PUNCH Online gathered that the special prayer, known as Salatul Istisqa, was organised due to the acute shortage of rainfall being experienced in the area, a development that has caused crops to start withering.
It was observed that the prayer session came at a time when many parts of the country were witnessing unusual rainfall patterns, with late onset and intermittent rainfall affecting farming activities.
While some states in the southern part of the country have recorded heavy downpours and flooding, farmers in parts of the North, including Jigawa, are lamenting poor rainfall distribution.
The development has raised serious concerns among rural farmers who depend solely on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods.
In his brief sermon after the two-rak’ah special prayer held at the town’s Eid ground on Monday, the Chief Imam of Basirka, Sheikh Sanunu Basirka, who led the prayer, called on residents to seek forgiveness and return to God. He said the special prayer for rainfall was not a one-off exercise.
Sanunu stated, “We observed this prayer since Saturday, Sunday, and we have done it again today, Monday. We also urged the people to observe a voluntary fast today, Monday, to seek intervention from Almighty Allah. We have gathered here today at the Eid ground to sincerely repent and ask Allah to forgive us and bless us with abundant rainfall that will bring mercy and prosperity to our land.”
He also highlighted that the lack of rain was a test from Almighty Allah, urging the people to intensify prayers, give charity and desist from acts that attract divine wrath.
He continued, “Allah has promised that when His servants repent and seek His forgiveness, He will open the doors of heaven and send down blessed rain upon them.”
The prayer session was well attended by residents of Basirka town and neighbouring villages, including farmers, Islamic clerics, elderly men and women, as well as youths. Men, women and children were seen sitting under the scorching sun with their hands raised, reciting supplications for divine mercy.
One of the attendees, Ibrahim Musa Dankoli, a 65-year-old farmer, said his maize and millet farms were drying up due to lack of rain.
Dankoli told PUNCH Online shortly after the prayer, “We have not had good rainfall for weeks, and our crops have started burning. We have no power except to return to Allah for help.”
Another resident, Haruna Aliyu Basirka, said the situation had caused anxiety among farmers in Gwaram Local Government Area.
“We are worried because this is the middle of the farming season but the rains have seized. That is why we came out today to pray together for Allah’s mercy,” Haruna said.
Similarly, a youth leader in the town, Malam Sulaiman Adamu Basirka, said the community decided to organise the special prayer after observing the changing weather.
“We came out here as one community, old and young, men and women, to beg Allah to send us beneficial rain that will save our farms and provide water for our animals,” Sulaiman told PUNCH Online.
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