Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

Religious Authority

Imam Duplicate

Simulcast sermons feature in this unusual clip … Discover More…

Zoom 'Islamic Intimacy'

An interesting example of how webinars can be used to discuss complex and sensitive issues… Discover More…

Moon Sightings

Moon sightings back in the news (if not in the skies) Discover More…

Gomaa's Opinion on Alcohol(?)

The New Arab, Egyptian cleric claims alcohol consumption does not invalidate a Muslim's fast
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'Shaykh Google'

I'm currently reading: Emad Hamdeh, 'Shaykh Google as Ḥāfiẓ al-ʿAṣr: The Internet, Traditional ʿUlamā’, and Self Learning ' via Academia Discover More…

'The Net Imam Paradox: Leadership, Authority and Representation in Cyberspace'

In January 2019, I gave a presentation entitled 'The Net Imam Paradox: Leadership, Authority and Representation in Cyberspace' at Cardiff University, which has just been released on YouTube. Discover More…

MUIS Fatwas

Today, The former Catholic school student now shaping fatwas on modern Muslim life Discover More…

Polio in Pakistan

The News (Pakistan), Polio remains an endemic in Pakistan
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Abdullah al-Faisal

Observer, Preacher who inspired Streatham terror attack peddling jihad from behind bars
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Breaking bad?

Vice, Indonesian Religious Leader Claims Meth is Halal Discover More…

Indonesia & Netflix

SCMP, Is Netflix haram? Indonesia’s Islamic clerics are ready for a fatwa – if you are Discover More…

Conference from Hurma Project

Aysha Khan, RNS, ‘A long time coming’: These Muslims are bringing sex abuse by sheikhs out of the shadows
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Maldives Net

raajje, Islamic Ministry appeals for religious scholars to actively condemn extremism
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Abdul Somad

Coconuts, Indonesian preacher Abdul Somad says chess ‘waste of time’ and haram, religious affairs ministry responds, ‘we’ll be a laughing stock’
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Iran's Anti-Dog Laws

Salam Bustanji, AlBawaba.com, 'It is a Sin to Walk Your Dog!' Iran's Anti-Dog Laws are Treating Pet Owners as Criminals
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Aceh Punishment

Guardian, Indonesian man flogged after breaking adultery law he helped draw up
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AI Virtual Ifta Initiative

The 'Virtual Ifta' service launched in Dubai. I've collected some of the coverage, and made a few observations. I took a quick look, but didn't try the WhatsApp element. Android/Apple apps are planned for this service, which is still in the early stages, which will improve ease of use. Question options are restricted at the moment. At this point, it is very much in launch mode. I will continue to monitor developments. Discover More…

Internet and Muslim Women

Just been reading this useful paper, which came out earlier in the year: Eva F. Nisa (2019), Internet and Muslim Women. In: Woodward M., Lukens-Bull R. (eds) Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives. Springer, Cham Discover More…

Aceh and Religious Authority

Ana Salvá, The Diplomat, Aceh, Indonesia: When Dating Meets Sharia Law
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Cyber-muftis

Alexandre Caeiro, Daily Sabah, Cyber-muftis, digital fatwas - the ongoing transformation of religious authority
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'Wahhabism Confronted'

Reuters, Wahhabism confronted: Sri Lanka curbs Saudi influence after bombings
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MENA Survey

BBC News, The Arab world in seven charts: Are Arabs turning their backs on religion?

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Religious Authority and the net

New and noted: Hira Amin, 'British Muslims Navigating between Individualism and Traditional Authority', 'Religions' Journal (haven't read it all yet!) Discover More…

El Fadl on KSA Scholars

Usuli Institute, Khaled Abou El Fadl Speaks at Protest for Saudi Scholars, 2 June 2019 [published 7 June 2019 on YouTube]
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'WhatsApp Alim'

Quartz, Haleem or Daleem? WhatsApp university fuels debate over Ramzan delicacy Discover More…

Muslim Millennials Online

Hussein Kesvani, Times Magazine, Inside the online world of Muslim millennials, 18 May 2019
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Tajikstan Internet

Fighting Fire With Firefox: Imam Uses Internet To Urge Tajiks Not To Use Internet
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Ongoing Australia Case

ABC Australia, Man searched online for Islamic punishments for wife's infidelity before murder, court told
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Qatar preacher opinion

Stepfeed, Muslim preacher thinks there is a 'right' way for men to beat their wives Discover More…

Megaphones in Mosques

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says megaphones should only be used for 'adhan' in mosques
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Muslim Celebrity Culture & 'Trauma Tourism'

Vanessa Taylor, Al Jazeera, Opinion piece, The problem with Muslim Celebrity Culture
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Indonesian Instagram Preachers

PRI, Indonesia’s Muslim youth find new heroes in Instagram preachers Discover More…

KSA Sunni-Shi'a Relations

The New Arab, Saudi ex-Imam of Mecca 'no longer considers Shia Muslims as heretics' Discover More…

Religious Authority Online

Alexandre Caeiro, Daily Sabah, Cyber-muftis, digital fatwas - the ongoing transformation of religious authority Discover More…

Muzmatch profile

BBC News, 'Muslims don't date, we marry'. Discover More…

Pakistan book

New book on Pakistan's Shi'a population: Discover More…

Indonesia Terminology Debate

PRI's The World, The world’s largest Islamic group wants Muslims to stop saying 'infidel' Discover More…

Religious Opinion

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says bribery is OK sometimes, but Muslims don't agree
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Saudi Show Stopped

al-Jazeera, Saudi Arabia suspends TV show that aired critical views, 5 Mar 2019 Discover More…

Fuadh Naim K-Pop Claim

Jakarta Post/Straits Times, K-pop promotes LGBT lifestyles and free sex, famous Indonesian preacher tells Muslim fans
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Singapore MUIS

Straits Times, Religious teachers have responsibility to lead community based on true teachings of Islam: Halimah Discover More…

Islamic Medical Ethics

Medical Ethics Conference information

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Snapchat filters interpreted

stepfeed, Snapchat filters are apparently 'haram in Islam' according to this Saudi cleric
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Sistani profile

TRT World, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani’s influence over Iraq
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Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

Al Jazeera, Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

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Updated: Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities

Islam UK Centre, Cardiff. Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities Discover More…

Trolling 'un-Islamic'

Malay Mail, FT mufti advises Muslims not to troll others, says unIslamic, 28 Dec 2018
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Conference on Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities

Cardiff University, Conference on Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities I'm giving a short paper at this event, on 21st January, 2019. My paper is entitled "The Net Imam Paradox: Contesting Leadership, Religious Authority and Representation in Cyberspace"
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Religious Authority between Generations

Economist, Young Muslims challenge the old guard at Britain’s mosques
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Related Research

Richard A. Nielsen, Deadly Clerics: Blocked Ambition and the Paths to Jihad (Cambridge University Press, 2017)

I was interested to see information on this book, published in 2017. I haven't read it yet (just ordered a copy). Dr Richard Nielsen is also working on issues associated with religious authority and the internet. I will update on the book once I have read it.

Memes and Madhabs

Faisal Ali, On Religion, Memes and Madhabs 15 September 2018

"The memes started a few weeks back by
Zain Siddiqi, a young Muslim from Phoenix, Arizona.
“It began as a bit of fun” he told me. “I really enjoy making memes, but I also enjoy studying Islamic law and different aspects of the religion.”
“Initially I just thought I would tweet one out and it would get 10 likes or something, and I would just go back to making mundane political commentary on whatever was happening” he continues. “But all of a sudden people were saying how much they enjoyed them and how much they were learning from them.”

Diversity in Islam approached through memes.


'Hometown'

BBC, New BBC Sounds investigative podcast Hometown: A Killing with award-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar
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