September 2025 – Virtually Islamic News

Tue 8 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 30-9-2025AD
Gaming, KSA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

KSA EA

Soft power and diversification at play here: I'm not a gamer, but this EA purchase is a significant development www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture…...

Tue 8 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 30-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI Uni

“In the fierce global war over workers skilled in artificial intelligence, the United Arab Emirates is luring researchers with a custom-built AI university that offers what many scientists dream...

Mon 7 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 29-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI

This is significant for AI specialists seeking a fast-track entry to UAE: UAE launches new AI specialists visa and expands humanitarian permit – The National apple.news/AIEU5X1jvSmi…...

Mon 7 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 29-9-2025AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Censorship, Human Rights, Taliban

Afghanistan Offline

The Taliban have turned off the internet: ⚠️ Update: #Afghanistan is now in the midst of a total internet blackout as Taliban authorities move to implement morality measures, with...

Mon 7 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 29-9-2025AD
crypto, Cryptocurrencies, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE ‘crypto-obsession‘

UAE ‘crypto-obsession‘:...

Thu 3 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 25-9-2025AD
KSA, Religious Authority, Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh

Independent, Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, dies, 24 Sep 2025 “Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia ‘s grand mufti who served the kingdom’s top religious figure...

Thu 3 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 25-9-2025AD
Gary R. Bunt

Islamic Algorithms – Review

Reading Religion’s James Riggan has reviewed Islamic Algorithms: ” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and...

Wed 2 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 24-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Internet, Egypt Internet, Egypt,, Google, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Nigeria, Nigeria internet, Senegal Internet

AI and Digital Influence

The AI competition is hotting up. This is interesting, given yesterday’s post about Indonesia, and has particular relevance in investigations into digital Islam/influence in majority and minority contexts. Ivan...

Tue 1 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 23-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, OpenAI

AI Indonesia

A significant push by OpenAI here: Ivan Mehta, TechCrunch, After India, OpenAI launches its affordable ChatGPT Go plan in Indonesia, 22 Sep 2025 “The company...

Tue 1 Rabi Al Thani 1447AH 23-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Google, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI Officers on tour

A significant development in terms of future R&D, with potential implications across sectors (including digital Islam). Dana Alomar, The National, UAE chief AI officers get peek into future tech...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

AI ‘Fake Journalism‘ Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Starlink Test Implications Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Virtually Islamic on Substack Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Iran AI Fri 28 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 9-10-2026AD

Indonesia Online Gambling Thu 27 Rabi Al Thani 1448AH 8-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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