London’s oldest independent Islamic bookshop may have to close within a year, as declining footfall and online retailers threaten its survival.
Founded in 1985 by Egyptian publisher Samir el-Atar, Dar al-Taqwa has been a cornerstone of British Muslim life: a space where scholars, students and new Muslims have gathered to browse, debate and connect.
Following el-Atar’s death in 2022, his widow, Noora el-Atar, a 69-year-old Muslim convert from Leeds, took over the shop and kept the business alive despite mounting financial pressure.
For generations, Dar al-Taqwa has been a hub of Islamic knowledge — a place where readers could discover books rarely found elsewhere.
“I think we played a very, very important part in the community. People say there is no other shop like this – especially in London,” said Noora.
Islam Channel visited the pioneering Islamic bookstore — watch the full video to learn more.
