Dar Al Taqwa

This bookshop has a special place in the heart of countless British Muslims, especially those in London. As the only real Muslim bookshop in the capital, with an extensive selection that crosses different schools of thought, it should be an easy five-stars especially when you also consider the friendly service.


But the place is in severe need of organisation. The books are very poorly ordered, and titles that seem to belong in one section are found in another, while some books need their own section but lack it. If even Foyles can subdivide their Sufism section to include different sections for Imam al-Haddad, Ibn Arabi, al-Ghazali, etc., then you'd think the city's only serious Islamic bookshop could do a bit better. For many, the sloppy organisation might add to its charm, but it really makes finding what you want hard, which is a real shame because this bookshop does have the best selection of books on Islam in the capital without doubt.


I must congratulate them on their excellent section on Islamic History, and the fact that they make the effort to source such second-hand books for their great section on Art and photography of different Muslim countries (i.e. Coffee table fare)


PS: I went there to purchase book one of the Madinah University Arabic course but was disappointed to learn they only sell all 3 books as a set.