Brothers/Sisters from England!about London

[Abdullah Abbas]

Asalamu Alaikum brothers/sisters i have a question about Bookstores in london i am not from england but i am planning to visit london and i am looking for addresses for good islamic bookstores in london

Salafi - Hanafi it doesnt matter
but i am specifically looking for:
Hanafi and Maliki Fiqh Books
and Salafi Aqeedah books (by ibn uthaymeen etc)

i heard about Azhar Academy i heard its a big bookstore but dont know about the books they sell could anyone provide some good information about this bookstore and perhaps other islamic bookstores in london.

JazakAllah Khair :)

[Ibn Adam]

Depends what language you're looking for.

Dar Al-Taqwa has a full range of books, including many that should be burned out of existence, but I prefer a shop that doesn't restrict itself to certain publishers. You'll find allsorts of material inside, mainly English language though but you can find a lot of books that are out of circulation or that you weren't even aware were ever published.

It's located on Melcombe Street, which is central in London.

Get an underground tube train to Baker Street station, ask staff for the Baker Street exit (not the Marylebone Road exits) come outside, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing slightly to your right and Melcombe Street is straight in front of you, the shop is on the left hand side just past the chemist.

[hearandobey]

bro, can you give example of the rare stuff they've got and which publishers they restrict themselves to? i'd also like to know about those to-be-burnt books? i must say they are a bit expensive when compared to some other shops that sell arabic stuff...

[hearandobey]

sorry i thought you meant dar al-dawah in bayswater!

regarding dar al-taqwa, does anyone know why do they sell shia stuff?

[Abu Ishaaq]

Although I havent been there in a while, but you should check out Daar Ad-Dawa in Bayswater for some good arabic books. The address is below

97 Westbourne Grove, Bayswater
London, W2 4AJ

[asharee_salafi]

sorry i thought you meant dar al-dawah in bayswater!

regarding dar al-taqwa, does anyone know why do they sell shia stuff?

maybe to refute 'em.

i know one guy who went to buy a shia book, but the shia refused to sell it to him- obviously, doenst wanna get xposed huh?!

[Ibn Adam]

I mean they don't restrict themselves to particular publishers. Like if you went into your average "salafi" book shop you'd think that the entire body of Islamic literature was restricted to a handful of publishing houses.

The owners of Dar Al-Taqwa are also a publisher, they're more sufi inclined themselves but they run the shop as business, i.e. they select a book on the basis of "will someone potentially buy this?" So you find the complete range of books inside salafi, sufi, shi'ee, orientalist books slandering Islam, literally anything.

In terms of rare books, firstly I'm most familiar with their English language stock. But what I'd say is that it is very easy for someone newly awakened in the deen or a revert to think that English translations or Islamic English texts began to be published in the 1990's which completely isn't true.

You've many books in there with yellowed pages that have been around for years. For instance, there's a two volume translation of Ibn Sa'ad's tabaqat that I hadn't seen elsewhere. You'll also get books that have been produced in small circulation, so you can find translations of particular madhab texts that you didn't even realise were ever done.

They deal with a lot of different publishers/distributors which other less-established shops can't always afford to take the risk of spreading themselves so widely.

The sister who works there, her husband owns the shop, is extremely helpful and friendly. She has a vast knowledge of the publications over the years and can sometimes help you track a book that others couldn't find for you.

[Abdullah Abbas]

Asalamu Alaikum brothers/sisters i have a question about Bookstores in london i am not from england but i am planning to visit london and i am looking for addresses for good islamic bookstores in london

Salafi - Hanafi it doesnt matter
but i am specifically looking for:
Hanafi and Maliki Fiqh Books
and Salafi Aqeedah books (by ibn uthaymeen etc)

i heard about Azhar Academy i heard its a big bookstore but dont know about the books they sell could anyone provide some good information about this bookstore and perhaps other islamic bookstores in london.

JazakAllah Khair :)

i am looking for english books:)

[Ibn Adam]

regarding dar al-taqwa, does anyone know why do they sell shia stuff?

I think it's just business for them. Which I don't necessarily agree with but if you know what you're looking for you shouldn't get lost amongst the erroneous side of the stock.

[Abdullah Abbas]

what about Azhar Academy is it a good bookstore?

[Ibn Adam]

I never went inside, just went past in the bus.

As a visitor to London it'd be more awkward to get to though. Take a train to Stratford (East London) and then get a 25 or 86 bus heading towards Stratford and look out for a church on the left about 15 minutes into the journey with a big banner on the outside informing you that there's actually Muslims inside not Christians.

[Abdullah Abbas]

I never went inside, just went past in the bus.

As a visitor to London it'd be more awkward to get to though. Take a train to Stratford (East London) and then get a 25 or 86 bus heading towards Stratford and look out for a church on the left about 15 minutes into the journey with a big banner on the outside informing you that there's actually Muslims inside not Christians.

are you referring to Azhar Academy akhi?

i am also wondering about the central mosque bookstore ?

[WM]

Go to East London. There are two or three stores very close to E. London Masjid itself, with pretty much every deeni English book (authored by Muslims) you could ever want.

[Ibn Adam]

are you referring to Azhar Academy akhi?

i am also wondering about the central mosque bookstore ?

Yes, I was referring to Azhar Academy.

The Central Mosque bookshop is a branch of Dar-us-Salam which is fine and I'm sure you'll find some stuff that you'll want to buy but I find the choice a little stifled.

I think of Dar-Us-Salam as the Marks & Spencers of Islamic bookshops, you go inside and you recognise the products you see but upon looking closely at the label you realise that they've had a hand in making almost everything you find before you.

If you made a trip to Central Mosque you could check out their bookshop after salah and also the Dar al-Taqwa at the same time as Baker Street tube would be the nearest station for both.

Directions for Central Mosque: Again go to the Baker Street exit of the station and turn right onto the street, walk up until the road forks and take the left hand fork. The masjid is about a ten minute walk from the station.

Plus there was another bookshop in the general area (not referring to the IIDC) but in the opposite direction to the Central Mosque. It was called "Message of Islam" and before that "House of Knowledge" but I seem to remember it was thinking to close down. Anyone know if it's still open?

If it is open then the directions would be go to the Baker Street exit again but take a left onto the street, cross Marylebone road and keep going straight up Baker Street until you reach "The Screen" (a small cinema) and then turn right, walk straight for two blocks and you'll find it on the right hand side of the street.

But like Muhaqiq said East London Mosque area is another option where you've got a small cluster of bookshops, plus you'd probably pick up some of the Hanafi stuff you mentioned you were looking for. Go to Whitechapel tube station and take a right outside and keep walking straight until you eventually see the masjid. En-route to the masjid you'll find a couple of bookshops on the same side of the road as the masjid and at least one on the other side when you walk past the majsid a little.

[Abu_Zahid]

Dar us Salam - Best for all the "salafi" books (U will find all Ibn Uthaymeen stuff etc. there)
226 High Street
Walthamstow,
London,
E17 7JH
Tel: 020 8520 2666
http://www.dar-us-salam.co.uk

Zam Zam - Largest Islamic book shop I've come across in London
Unit 5,
388 Green Street,
London,
E13 9AP
Tel: 020 8470 1300

The shops in Whitechapel are pretty small in comparison...I would recommend starting with these two..u'll probably find it's all you need. Most other shops are just smaller with some of the books available at both these places.

[Abdullah Ali al Hanafi]

Yes, I was referring to Azhar Academy.

The Central Mosque bookshop is a branch of Dar-us-Salam which is fine and I'm sure you'll find some stuff that you'll want to buy but I find the choice a little stifled.

I think of Dar-Us-Salam as the Marks & Spencers of Islamic bookshops, you go inside and you recognise the products you see but upon looking closely at the label you realise that they've had a hand in making almost everything you find before you.

If you made a trip to Central Mosque you could check out their bookshop after salah and also the Dar al-Taqwa at the same time as Baker Street tube would be the nearest station for both.

Directions for Central Mosque: Again go to the Baker Street exit of the station and turn right onto the street, walk up until the road forks and take the left hand fork. The masjid is about a ten minute walk from the station.

Plus there was another bookshop in the general area (not referring to the IIDC) but in the opposite direction to the Central Mosque. It was called "Message of Islam" and before that "House of Knowledge" but I seem to remember it was thinking to close down. Anyone know if it's still open?

If it is open then the directions would be go to the Baker Street exit again but take a left onto the street, cross Marylebone road and keep going straight up Baker Street until you reach "The Screen" (a small cinema) and then turn right, walk straight for two blocks and you'll find it on the right hand side of the street.

But like Muhaqiq said East London Mosque area is another option where you've got a small cluster of bookshops, plus you'd probably pick up some of the Hanafi stuff you mentioned you were looking for. Go to Whitechapel tube station and take a right outside and keep walking straight until you eventually see the masjid. En-route to the masjid you'll find a couple of bookshops on the same side of the road as the masjid and at least one on the other side when you walk past the majsid a little.
^these stores sell hanafi books or should he go for azhar academy?
i am planning to visit london aswell nice post!.

[Ibn Adam]

I've never actually been inside Azhar Academy so I can't comment on the content.

I guess it really depends on where you're staying when you get to London and if you've got a host who's prepared to show you around or if you're going to explore by yourself.

If you're out and about by yourself then I'd recommend the Baker Street trip because it's central and very easy to find. It shouldn't matter where you're staying, you should be able to get to this area with little difficulty. You can get some "Salafi" books from the Dar-Us-Salam bookshop when you're at the masjid for salah and you can also have a browse through a different sort of catalogue in Dar Al-Taqwa. Plus, if you made a day trip of it (i.e. got a travelcard for the tube) you could have a wander around the central London shops. (Hmm, now I'm sounding like a tourist guide.)

If you're staying in East London then the Zam Zam shop that Abu_Zahid referred to has a rich and expansive selection and will certainly stock a range of books that include Hanafi and "Salafi" books. But again it depends where exactly you're staying in East London as to how easy it is to get to. The East is served by a number of tube, train and bus routes and sometimes they don't interconnect well and you find yourself going into and then back out of central London just to get to the area you want.

If you do want Zam Zam then get a train to Upton Park and come out onto the main high street and turn left. There's another Islamic shop before you get to Zam Zam so just be careful you don't get mixed up. Zam Zam is a big shop on a corner at the bottom of a slight hill.

Overall unless you're actually staying with someone who is going to personally take you to one of the shops that are in the outer regions of London, I'd just recommend sticking with the central location of the Central Mosque (Baker Street station). It's easier to get to and therefore less daunting for visitors to the city. Allahu a'alam.

[Abdullah Ali al Hanafi]

I've never actually been inside Azhar Academy so I can't comment on the content.

I guess it really depends on where you're staying when you get to London and if you've got a host who's prepared to show you around or if you're going to explore by yourself.

If you're out and about by yourself then I'd recommend the Baker Street trip because it's central and very easy to find. It shouldn't matter where you're staying, you should be able to get to this area with little difficulty. You can get some "Salafi" books from the Dar-Us-Salam bookshop when you're at the masjid for salah and you can also have a browse through a different sort of catalogue in Dar Al-Taqwa. Plus, if you made a day trip of it (i.e. got a travelcard for the tube) you could have a wander around the central London shops. (Hmm, now I'm sounding like a tourist guide.)

If you're staying in East London then the Zam Zam shop that Abu_Zahid referred to has a rich and expansive selection and will certainly stock a range of books that include Hanafi and "Salafi" books. But again it depends where exactly you're staying in East London as to how easy it is to get to. The East is served by a number of tube, train and bus routes and sometimes they don't interconnect well and you find yourself going into and then back out of central London just to get to the area you want.

If you do want Zam Zam then get a train to Upton Park and come out onto the main high street and turn left. There's another Islamic shop before you get to Zam Zam so just be careful you don't get mixed up. Zam Zam is a big shop on a corner at the bottom of a slight hill.

Overall unless you're actually staying with someone who is going to personally take you to one of the shops that are in the outer regions of London, I'd just recommend sticking with the central location of the Central Mosque (Baker Street station). It's easier to get to and therefore less daunting for visitors to the city. Allahu a'alam.

does Zam Zam sell Maliki Fiqh books aswell i think its quite hard to find maliki books in the english language

[al-istiqamah.com]

A prisoner told us that Azhar Academy's catalogue of books is the main one prisoners are allowed, indeed encouraged, to order Islamic books from. This is due to the fact that they are so elementary that there is not much fear of such books assisting in developing the Islamic personality of prisoners.
You can view the online shop here (http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/default.asp)

[Umm Ahmed]

A prisoner told us that Azhar Academy's catalogue of books is the main one prisoners are allowed, indeed encouraged, to order Islamic books from. This is due to the fact that they are so elementary that there is not much fear of such books assisting in developing the Islamic personality of prisoners.
You can view the online shop here (http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/default.asp)

Prisoners in Uk Sis ? What about books that are sent from outside ?

[al-istiqamah.com]

It depends on the prisoner's grading and which prison they are in. For example, a convicted A cat brother in a high security prison such as Woodhill will usually be allowed books, sometimes qur'an tapes etc. A prisoner in Belmarsh in the High Secure Unit (cat AA prisoners) is not usually allowed books to be sent in - at least, not the ones we've had communication with. It's always best to check with their solicitor. But a good alternative (and legal) is sending an Islamic article, no more than 5 printed pages at a time, instead.

I have seen that some US prisoners (cat AA) receive books more easily than some AA cat brothers here in the UK, as long as there is no arabic, and it is softback and sent from a publisher or amazon etc.

At the end of the day, Azhar Academy has been chosen by the government, as their S.Asian books are seen as harmless and elementary e.g. "Teach Yourself urdu In Two Months" etc :)

[Umm Ahmed]

Thanks for the info.
I could do with a book here, for learning urdu sis :)

[al-istiqamah.com]

Thanks for the info.
I could do with a book here, for learning urdu sis :)

You've met the local cab drivers :)