"Staff say the shop is the only non-sectarian Islamic bookshop and stocks all kinds of titles from politics and culture, to children's books and translations of the Qur'an in major languages. Since el-Atar's death in 2022, his widow Noora el-Atar, a 69-year-old Muslim convert from Leeds, has taken over, even giving up her wage and not taking retirement to keep the business afloat. The shop has launched a 25,000 fundraiser to cover rent and running costs."
"The couple chose Baker Street for its proximity to London Central mosque and because, at the time, a lot of international customers, especially Arabs, would come and stay here in the summer, so it was essential for them. The shop, which Noora runs alongside just three part-time staff, began without bank loans, in accordance with Islamic teachings that forbid interest. Instead, the el-Atars relied on community investment and savings."
Dar al-Taqwa opened in 1985 on Baker Street and became a central London cultural and spiritual hub for British and international Muslims, offering a non-sectarian range of titles—from politics and culture to children's books and Qur'an translations. The shop operated without bank loans, relying on community investment and savings in line with Islamic teachings that forbid interest. Founder Samir el-Atar died in 2022; his widow, Noora el-Atar, a 69-year-old convert, took over, forgoing a wage and retirement while running the shop with three part-time staff. Declining footfall and online competition threaten closure within a year; a £25,000 fundraiser aims to cover rent and costs.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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