Boris Johnson has praised Muslims for “making Britain a success” in a message marking one of Islam’s holiest festivals.

In a message marking Eid al-Adha, the prime minister called on people to celebrate the contribution made by the UK’s estimated 3.3 million Muslims.

“The story of Eid al-Adha is one of sacrifice, about doing your duty and doing what’s right,” Mr Johnson said in a statement.

“And that is something we see daily from Muslims right across the UK – men and women who, in all kinds of different ways, make such a huge contribution to modern British life.

“In business, in our public services, in culture and the media, at the highest levels of government and of course in England’s World Cup-winning cricket team, British Muslims are helping to make this country the success it is today.”

Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Show all 40 1 /40 Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muslim pilgrims throw stones towards the symbolic devil represented by a Jamarat (Burning Coal) on the last day of the Muslims Hajj 2018 pilgrimage in the tent City of Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world People at a fairground set up celebrate Eid Al-Adha in Burgess Park, south London REUTERS Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Ivorian Muslims pray during the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid-al- Adha in Abidjan EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world People take a selfie during Eid-El-Kabir festival in Dakar AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Girls pose with a frame decorated with holiday wishes after Eid al-Adha prayers, held in a sports hall in Bucharest, Romania AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A Palestinian man throws his child in the air following morning prayers marking the first day of Eid al-Adha celebrations Reuters Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Jamil, eight months-old, lies on the floor during Eid al-Adha prayers, held in a sports hall in Bucharest, Romania AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A Muslim pilgrim arrives to throw stones towards the symbolic devil represented by a Jamarat EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muslim pilgrims head to take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, near Mecca AFP/Getty Images Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Families enjoy rides on the dodgems during an Eid in the Park celebration at the New River Sports ground in Wood Green, London Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Ivorian Muslims pray during the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid-al- Adha in Abidjan EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muslims attend a morning prayer at the industrial wasteland of Parco Dora in Turin AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A boy cast stones at the huge stone pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil during the annual Haj pilgrimage on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Members of Naples' muslim community gather at Garibaldi Square EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A Syrian boy, dressed in his holiday outfit, prays over the tomb of a loved one AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Men prepare to eat during Eid al-Adha celebrations in the village of Kok-Jare outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Palestinians attend prayer on the first day of Eid al Adha in Gaza City EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A man attends a Muslim morning prayer gathering at the industrial wasteland of Parco Dora in Turin AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Cairo, Egypt Muslims try to catch balloons distributed for free after Eid al-Adha prayers outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, August 21. AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Afghans greet each other after congregational prayers during the holy festival of Eid al-Adha, in Kabul EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A man distributes sweets to children after Eid al-Adha prayer at King Abdul Aziz Mosque, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Kosovo boys pray to mark the first day of Eid al-Adha outside the Sultan Mehmet Fatih mosque in Pristina AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A child holds up a selfie stick before morning prayers in Quezon City, Philippines EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muslim Hajj pigrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al Adha in Mecca EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Palestinians attend prayer on the first day of Eid al Adha in Gaza City EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Palestinians attend prayer on the first day of Eid al Adha in Gaza City EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A clown distributes balloons near the Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city on the first day of Eid al-Adha AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world A young Palestinian girl flies a helium balloon near the Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Women and children conduct morning prayers to mark Eid al-Adha at a public park in Quezon City, Philippines EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muslim Hajj pigrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al Adha in Mecca EPA Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Men hug each other after offering Eid al-Adha prayers outside of the Shah-e-Dushamshera mosque in Kabul AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Children dressed in their holiday clothes play on a swing in the opposition-held southern Syrian city of Daraa on the first day of Eid al-Adha AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Bamako, Mali Malian women have their hair cut and styled in a salon, on the eve of Eid al-Adha in Bamako on August 20, 2018. AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Almaty, Kazakhstan A man squats as he carries a sheep during a competition to mark Kurban-Ait, also known as Eid al-Adha, at the Central Mosque in Almaty, Kazakhstan August 21, 2018. Reuters Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Nairobi, Kenya Muslims attend prayers to mark Kurban-Ait, also known as Eid al-Adha, at an open field in Nairobi, Kenya August 21, 2018. Reuters Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Kavaja, Albania Albanian Muslims pray in the main square of Kavaja on August 21, 2018, to mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha Festival. AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Gaza City Palestinian women take a selfie while waiting for for prayers on the first day of Eid al-Adha festival, in Gaza City August 21, 2018. Reuters Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Muscat, Oman Muslim men take part in the morning prayers outside a mosque in the Omani capital Muscat on the first day of Eid al-Adha on August 21, 2018. AFP/Getty Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Pristina, Kosovo Kosovo men pray to mark the first day of Eid al-Adha outside the Sultan Mehmet Fatih mosque in Pristina, Kosovo, Tuesday, August 21, 2018. AP Eid al-Adha celebrations around the world Beirut, Lebanon Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha prayer outside Al Ameen Mosque in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 21 August 2018 EPA

The prime minister praised the “extraordinary generosity” of Muslims, who traditionally celebrate by donating to charity and sharing meals with loved ones.

Prime ministers routinely release messages marking the two Eid festivals that take place each year, but Mr Johnson’s statement comes amid continued controversy over his previous remarks about Muslims.

He compared women who wear veils to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers” last year, but later apologised for the offence called.

The Muslim Council of Britain accused Mr Johnson of “pandering to the far right”, while his remarks were used by the perpetrators of hate crimes and included in a dossier calling for a formal investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

YouGov polling released last month suggested 56 per cent of Tory members believe Islam was “generally a threat” to the British way of life, while two-thirds believed in the myth of no-go zones where “non-Muslims are not able to enter”.

Fiyaz Mughal OBE, director of the Faith Matters group, told The Independent the prime minister had been left with a “low standing” among British Muslims.

“Clearly he’s realised he can’t carry on like this,” Mr Mughal said. “He cannot govern a country with a large section of the population not feeling supported or part of the political process.

“This is a conciliatory tone he has taken and I think it’s part of a strategy of reconciliation and recognition of British Muslims.”

It came after the head of UK counterterror police called for politicians to “bring society together”.

Johnson has been criticised for previous remarks about Muslims (EPA)

Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu raised the alarm about increasing polarisation and said societal inclusion was needed to fight extremism.

Security services have been increasing efforts to combat far-right terrorism following a series of global attack and plots targeting Muslims, non-whites and perceived “traitors”.

Official UK threat level warnings now consider the extreme right-wing as well as Islamists, while MI5 has been brought into cases previously deemed “domestic” and left to police.

Of the terror suspects arrested in the year to March, 72 per cent identified themselves as British nationals or dual citizens, while 41 per cent were white, 36 per cent were Asian and 12 per cent black.

In his last major speech as home secretary last month, Sajid Javid appealed for a “national conversation about extremism” as he announced the government was drawing up a new strategy to combat multiple threats.

“We must act now, to avoid sliding into the barely masked racism of nationalism,” he said.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the “feast of sacrifice”, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide and honours the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at the command of God.