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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Sundus Abdi

‘It would be a great loss’: London’s oldest Islamic bookshop at risk of closure

Noora stands in the shop surrounded by books wearing a white hijab and light blue abaya
Noora el-Atar took over the running of Dar al-Taqwa after her husband passed away in 2022. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian

London’s oldest independent Islamic bookshop is at risk of closing within a year owing to declining footfall and the rise of online shopping platforms.

Founded in 1985 by the Egyptian publisher Samir el-Atar, Dar al-Taqwa has been a cornerstone of British Muslim life for four decades – a place where scholars, students and converts have long gathered to browse, talk and connect.

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