Greater Manchester Police are treating a fire at a mosque in Cheetham Hill as a hate crime.
Officers in the north of Manchester are searching for footage related to the incident, which took place at around 11.45pm on Sunday 9 December at Al Falaha Mosque on Heywood Street.
No injuries have been reported.
Officers are appealing for eye witnesses and people with dashcam footage to come forward.
Detective Inspector Muz Kernain of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: “Fortunately, no-one was injured in the fire but had it been earlier in the day, this could have been a very different story.
“Attacking a place of worship is truly disgusting and I can assure you we will not be taking this lightly.
“It’s so important we find who has done this – the pain and upset they have caused is deplorable.”