[5] From the early 1970s, the Trust started up Islamic religious lessons for Muslim pupils.

Schools in the UK had Christian religious lessons as standard, but pupils were allowed to opt out of these classes.

Newham was the first borough to allow the Islamic lessons, along with Hackney, followed by Bradford and other cities outside of London.

[6] The Trust also began supporting efforts to open private Islamic schools in 1974,[7] and by 1992, 23 Islamic schools were open, all supported by the Trust.

Important leaders in this movement were Ibrahim Hewitt, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens),[8][9] Afzal Rahman,[7] and Gulam Sarwar.