LONDON – As the world braces for a festive Christmas holiday, a British Muslim choose to share the Christmas Day dinner with elderly and homeless people, opening the doors of his London restaurant to offer them a three-course meal so that “no one eats alone”.

Shish Restaurant, in Sidcup, is asking local residents to spread the word of its offer and has put up posters saying “No one eats alone on Christmas Day. We are here to sit with you,” on 25 December, the Independent reported.

The free three-course meal is available between 12pm and 6pm on Christmas Day.

It includes a soup and Cacik as a starter, a choice of chicken casserole, vegetable casserole or a chicken shish as a main dish, and rice pudding for dessert.

The restaurant urged people to share its plan through social media, where the initiative was widely praised.

“This is the most selfless gesture I have ever seen and they should be recognized as a pillar of the community,” Vicky Lanfear wrote on Facebook.

Suzannah Harris added: “What a lovely gesture; a restaurant that gives something back instead of merely seeing Xmas as a time to cash in. Will definitely visit in the new year if ever in the area.”

Linda Leach wrote: “There is still kindness in this world. Amazing people.”

The gesture also received a postive reaction on Twitter, where one user posted: “A wonderful gesture. Now that’s REAL community spirit! God Bless them.”

Another user, called Sally Barnes, posted: “These are the kind of acts that the Muslims I know carry out with generosity. Someone tell the Daily Mail please!”

Christmas is the main festival on the Christian calendar. Its celebrations reach its peak at 12:00 PM on December 24 of every year.

Muslims believe in Jesus as one of the great Prophets of God and that he is the son of Mary but not the Son of God. He was conceived and born miraculously.

In the Noble Qur’an, Jesus is called “Isa”. He is also known as Al-Masih (the Christ) and Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary).