An exploration of grave sites in Manchester finds that Muslims had landed on these shores in the nineteenth century.

A Muslim grave dating back to 1902 may well be the oldest one in Manchester.

In our investigation to find the first Muslims to be buried in the region we visited Southern Cemetery.

The cemetery opened on 9 October 1879 and had mortuary chapels for Anglicans, Nonconformists, and a Jewish chapel.

Asian Image:

This is believed to be the oldest Muslim grave at Southern Cemetery. (Picture: Asian Image)


But hidden away behind undergrowth were two Muslim graves, one dating back to 1931 and another from 1902.

Peter Mckessy, cemetery manager, said: “We were cleaning one of the oldest parts of the cemetery when we came across a Muslim headstone from 1931.

“Nearby, we then noticed another headstone but it had been placed the wrong way round. That is probably why didn’t see it earlier. That one dated back to 1902.”

The grave in question belonged to a Mohamed Yaseen Hallaby of Damascus who died on September 10, 1902 aged 75 years. 

The headstone has a full Arabic scripture of the kalima etched on it complete with an engraving of a fez (hat).

The 1931 headstone belonged to Nejeeb Ramadan who died on July 8 of that year.

Asian Image:

Dedicated Muslims grave sections at Southern Cemetery appeared in the 1950s (Picture: Asian Image)

Southern Cemetery covers a large area and the oldest separate Muslim sections saw burials taking place from 1954 onwards.

Peter said: “The first burial in this old section dates back to August 14, 1954. Close by a second area includes graves from the seventies and eighties.

“Another area which includes a baby and child section was used from 2003.

“Then another section was put aside where the first burial took place in 2013. This is now filling up too and by the end of the year we will be looking to have burials in a brand new area. This has already been prepared.”

Peter, who has been working at the cemetery since 1988, says he works in partnership with a wide number of communities.
He said: “This is the busiest cemetery in the region and we have enquiries from across the area. It caters for a very large population.

“When I started here I knew little of Muslim culture but over the years I have to say alongside my staff I have learnt a lot.
“Importantly, I am available 364 days a year and we have also arranged funerals on Boxing Day where necessary.

“Eid, as many cemetery staff will know, is very busy and I will make sure I am here myself to assist.

“I know many of the local mosques and we try to do our best where we can. I get invited to local meals and the procession for the Prophet’s birthday too!”

The cemetery does not have a designated prayer area though, with Janazah prayers taking place at mosques.

Peter adds: “We do get enquiries from people wanting to locate old graves. We need the date specifically and the correct spelling of the names and most of the time we should be able to assist.”

Sailors buried in Liverpool in the mid-1800s

Official records show the first death and funeral of a Muslim in the North West was that of Michael Hall, a former Methodist preacher who converted to Islam. He died aged 44 and was buried in February 1891 in Liverpool.
Abdullah Quilliam, one of the first Muslim converts at the time, reported in the Crescent that prayers were said in English and Arabic by Imam Said Adam in Garston.
According to the book ‘Islam in Victorian Britain: The Life and Times of Abdullah Quilliam’ by Ron Greaves, in November 1893 another funeral took place, that of a deceased Muslim student from Edinburgh - Mohammed Abdus Salem. The Liverpool Courier reported that this was the ninth person to be buried at the Necropolis Cemetery. 
There are reports that in the mid-nineteenth century burials took place of Moroccan sailors who died after illnesses. There is also the story of thirty Ottoman sailors buried at a Liverpool cemetery.

OLDHAM: First Muslim section opened at Greenacres Cemetery

Some of the oldest cemeteries in the North West can be found in Oldham with both Greenacres and Chadderton cemeteries opened in 1857.
This was before some of the larger cemeteries in the region.
The cemetery team told us the first Muslim section in Oldham opened in the 1960s Greenacres Cemetery. As this area became full, a new Muslim burial area was created in Chadderton Cemetery and opened in 2011.
As the population has grown and demand for more Muslim burials has increased there has been effort to modernise the area.
In 2017 the area in Chadderton was extended with new roads and landscaping carried out to accommodate future burials.
Cemetery staff have been keen to work with Mosque representatives and local councillors to ensure Muslim cultural rights are respected.

BOLTON: Many of the early burials were those of babies
 
The first Muslim burial in Heaton Cemetery dates back to 1965 and unfortunately was a baby.
 Indeed between 1965-1968 only babies were buried on the Muslim Section. 
Like many other South Asian communities adult deaths in the community were probably repatriated. 
The first adult Muslim burial was on 1 March 1968 and was a 27 year old lady Aisa Oomerjee, wife of Moosa.
John White from Superintendent Registrar, at Bolton Cemeteries and Crematorium told us, “The Muslim section in Heaton Cemetery has expanded over the years since 1965 and in 2008 a new Extension to Heaton Cemetery was completed (across the road from the original one) and this hopefully will serve the burial needs of the community for many years to come. 
“We currently do around 80 Muslim burials a year but this is increasing all the time and will soon probably number around 100 per annum.”
Heaton Cemetery itself first opened in 1879 and is the largest and busiest cemetery in Bolton, with around 300 burials per year.