Worshippers deny renting mosque in Kano

From Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano

Muslim worshippers at the Dalha Ibn Ubaidullah Mosque in Na’ibawa Quarters, Kano State, have dispelled a rumour that they were renting a mosque for worship.

There were speculations on social media that a landlord in Kano, built a mosque, and rented it out for the purpose of worship.

Abdallahi Muhammad, a worshipper at the mosque and grains dealer, whose shop is located close to the mosque, said contrary to speculations, the place was not initially built as a mosque, but a shop.

“As you can see for yourself, there are five shops here including the one that was converted into a mosque. What happened is that for many years we were observing our five daily prayers in front of these shops and whenever it rained we found it difficult to observe the prayers.

“As a result of that, people resolved that we should hire one of the shops and convert it into a mosque. So, sometimes in 2012, we rented the shop and converted it into a mosque and since then we have been praying in it and paying the owner some money,” he said. Another worshiper and a tailor who owns a shop also close to the mosque, Ibrahim Sulaiman, said, “although worshipers pay for the shop that was converted into a mosque, it is wrong for anyone to say the property was built as a mosque and it is being rented out to worshippers. “The owner of the house should not be blamed for collecting rent from worshippers who decided to convert his shop into a mosque”.

When contacted, the Chief Imam of the mosque, Ustaz Kabiru Ubandi, said he could speak on the issue at the moment.

“Yes, I am the Chief Imam of the mosque but you have called at a wrong time because I am about to enter into an examination hall. I think we better arrange for another time,” he said.