During the seventies and eighties, the nascent Muslim communities in England began to expand considerably. This growth created an ever increasing need for an educational initiative that would cater for future generations of Muslims. Dr. Maulana Abdur Rahim, a renowned scholar from Bangladesh, was amongst the first pioneers who had the farsightedness to fulfil such a need. His vision was to establish an institute that would create experts in the Islamic sciences who would become exemplary representatives of Islam, preserve the Islamic identity of British Muslims, and equip them with the necessary skills to benefit the local community and enrich the wider society.

By the Grace of Allah, through the dedication and sincerity of a group of committed individuals led by Dr. Maulana Abdur Rahim, Darul Uloom Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah was established in 1973. By 1985 Darul Uloom was registered with the DCSF as a full-time registered school. The Madrasah was one of the first of its kind in the Western world. Thus, the Darul Uloom acted as a blueprint for other Madrasahs, and in subsequent years paved the way for many Islamic institutes to open throughout the country.

The Madrasah has served its purpose of educating thousands of students with both an understanding of the Islamic Sciences and competency in the National Curriculum subjects – a combination that has provided students the basis to pursue further education in a wide range of disciplines. Students of Darul Uloom have gone on to become great Ulama, Huffaz, and professionals in numerous sectors of society: as Imams, teachers, medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, councilors, businessmen and many others.

In recent years, there has been a renewed, reinvigorated drive to develop and improve the standards of education further. The Madrasah has taken great strides to further that aim, and there are genuine expectations for it to become a centre of excellence and beacon for Islamic learning in the West.