During the Indonesian National Revolution, Kartosoewirjo founded his own band of fighters in West Java, called Hizbullah and Sabilillah.

Rebels in South Sulawesi led by army deserter Abdul Kahar Muzakkar joined the Darul Islam Movement in 1951.

In that year, Darul Islam agents unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Sukarno by throwing grenades at him during a school function in Cikini, Central Jakarta.

The implementation of martial law in 1957, followed by declaration of Guided Democracy by Sukarno in 1959, marked the reversal of fortunes for Darul Islam.

Smaller Darul Islam bands operating in Central Java under Amir Fatah were crushed by Colonel Ahmad Yani's Banteng Raiders in 1954–1957.

In February 1965, its leader Kahar Muzakkar was killed in a military ambush in the interior of Southeast Sulawesi province, ending the Darul Islam insurgency in Indonesia.

According to the director of the National Counter Terrorism Agency brigadier general of police Ahmad Nurwakhid, Darul Islam carrying out underground movements and recruitment.

On the other hand, observers note that the Darul Islam Indonesia threat is too exaggerated because its cells are currently too small and uncoordinated to inflict a significant attack on the government.

Although Darul Islam Indonesia existence is temporarily shrouded in the shadows of Jemaah Islamiyah and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, the police report that their activities are continuing.