Thousands of Muslims came to Bolton this weekend for the annual walk to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

The annual event, which could not go ahead last year due to Covid, welcomed people in the faith from as far as Scotland and London to the north west.

People met up at the Makkah Mosque in Bolton for food before the walk began in the afternoon.

Sufi Mahmood, from the Naqshbandiyya Aslamiyya group which organised the event, said faith had been important in getting through lockdown.

He said: “We normally get 4,000 to 5,000 people, that was before Covid.

“We have more than 1,000 today.

“I am very happy with that as people are just coming out of Covid.

“Faith has been very important, it gives you an understand of what you are going through, the problems and the issues in day to day lives.

“It makes you think you should be more understanding and grateful.

“When people go through hard times you should help each other in all sorts of ways, not just Muslims the whole community.”

The life and work of the Sufi saint Sheik ,Sufi Mohammed Aslam was also marked by the walk

The Milad, Arabic name for the birth of the beloved Prophet Muhammad is celebrated all over the world by the Muslims.

It’s amongst the most important dates in the Islamic calendar.

 

All pictures by Henry Lisowski