Sheiykh Shaibzada Habib-Ur-Rahman Mehboobi, speaking at the Gulzar-E-Medina mosque in Westtown on Sunday, urged all Muslims to learn what Islam has to say about community cohesion.

His speech was part of events marking Eid-Milad-Un-Nabi, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

He said: "The Prophet Muhammad is an example for Muslims to follow when it comes to caring about your neighbours, the vulnerable, poor, elderly and even animals."

He said there was a famous story in which the Prophet was riding on a camel with his followers towards Mecca and saw a litter of newly born puppies lying in the way. He felt worried the pups would be trampled under the camels' hooves so told his men to immediately change direction.

Sheiykh Mehboobi said: "This was the mercy of the Prophet Muhammad. Yet how tragic it is the extremists do not learn a lesson from this story.

"Here, there was a situation where the Prophet showed serious concern for the safety and welfare of a litter of puppies. But the extremists of today are very quick to get involved in acts of terrorism by detonating bombs without thinking who will be the innocent victims out of all this horrific carnage.

"They have no concern whatsoever for men, women, children, the vulnerable, the animals or even the environment.

"All Muslims should study closely the life story of Prophet Muhammad. Then you will learn exactly how much concern he had for the welfare of others.

"So it is now more important than ever before for all Muslims to celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday and to use this celebration to learn what Islam has to say about community cohesion."

The Sunni Muslim Council of Mosques for North Kirklees held a procession from the Ghousia Mosque, Warren Street, Savile Town, across the Calder Bridge to the Westtown mosque.

More than 2,000 people took part.