Muslims donate money for Coptic Christian Church in Cairo

Muslims in Egypt have donated money toward the construction of a Coptic church in Al Manufiyya, north of Cairo.

This goodwill from the Muslims, signals another step towards solidarity in a country previously divided along sectarian lines, Christian Post reports.

Reports also say Coptic Orthodox Bishop Benjamin, of the Diocese of Al Manufiyya, began a collection of donations for the church, which will be dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

According to Fides news agency, a number of Islamic leaders in the area encouraged local Muslims to contribute; a suggestion that was taken up most eagerly by young people and children.

Pleased with the success of the initiative, Bishop Benyamin has urged other communities to follow suit, and said there is a message to learn from the way that Christians and Muslims are working together.

Though Egypt has in the past been plagued by sectarian violence, members of both faiths have been making a concerted effort to unite in the wake of brutality perpetrated by Islamic State in the Middle Eastern region.

There were concerns that these efforts could be undone when ISIS murdered a number of Egyptian Christians earlier this year, however.

A video was released by the jihadist group in February, purporting to show 21 men, "people of the cross, the followers of the hostile Egyptian Church" according to a subtitle, being beheaded by masked militants in Libya.