People in Nelson, Lancashire gathered Sunday to remember the fallen from two world wars and share the Muslim community’s celebrations of the Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Burnley Express reported.

“We were able to share in a day of commemoration and celebration in a unique expression of neighborliness born of global, historical traditions living and working side by side,” Rev. Guy Jamieson from St Paul’s and St Mary’s churches said.

“For several hours on Remembrance Sunday, on the doorsteps, on the streets, in the mosque and at the cenotaph, conversations were shared, traditions were celebrated, commemorations were observed, and the result was a tangible vibrancy, enthusiasm, and community togetherness.”

Memorial

Sunday March

On Sunday, Muslims marched through parts of Nelson and arrived at the central mosque for prayers.

Rev. Jamieson was speaking to the Muslim congregation who invited him along with Mike Sutcliffe, from the Pendle Armed Forces Support Group.

“We were reminded of the countless numbers of Muslims who sacrificed their lives in the same cause of freedom, and of the shared traditions of hospitality exchanged throughout the year by Christians and Muslims,” Rev. Jamieson told the Muslim congregation.

“After this, there was a shared march to the cenotaph for the Christian act of remembrance. Imam Muhammad Abdal Rahman spoke movingly about our shared humanity, something made all the more beautiful when we consider the sacrifice made by so many in the course of two world wars in order that the same humanity might flourish.”

Shirley Godfrey, chairman of Pendle Building Bridges, with Rauf Bashir (right)

A study by think tank British Future found just 22% of people in Britain knew Muslims had fought in the Great War.

A research by Dr. Islam Issa, Lecturer in English Literature at Birmingham City University, proved that 1.5 million Indians and 280,000 Algerians, Moroccans and Tunisians fought for the Allies during the WWI as well as soldiers recruited from other parts of Africa.

Nearly 3.7 million tons of supplies and more than 170,000 animals were shipped from India to support the war effort.

Imam Muhammad Abdal Rahman and the Rev. Guy Jamieson