September 2025 – Page 3 – Virtually Islamic News

Wed 18 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 10-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Research

AI and Islam

The Journal of Digital Islamicate Research 3 has articles relating to AI and Islam, which I have found really interesting: Key sections include: Eid Mohamed and Mai Zaki, Islamicate Knowledge in...

Wed 18 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 10-9-2025AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Research, Sufism,

Digital Vernacular Sufism in Indonesia

Here’s an interesting article about vernacular Sufism and digital Islam (I haven’t read it in detail yet): Muhammad Sulthon, Mahmud Yunus Mustofa, Mishbah Khoiruddin Zuhri, Decentering Islamic Authority in...

Tue 17 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 9-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, LLMs, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI K2

Will Knight, Wired, The United Arab Emirates Releases a Tiny but Powerful AI Model, 9 Sep 1015 “It is not a complete large language model but rather a model...

Tue 17 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 9-9-2025AD
Cyber Security, Pakistan, Pakistan Internet

Pakistan Digital Surveillance

Reuters, Amnesty says Pakistan spying on millions through phone-tapping, firewall, 9 Sep 2025 “Pakistan’s spy agencies can monitor at least 4 million mobile phones at a time through its...

Tue 17 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 9-9-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Oman digital

Oman AI

Oman AI initiatives and intentions discussed here:...

Sun 15 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 7-9-2025AD
Digital MENA, MENA, Microsoft, Pakistan, Pakistan Internet, South Asia, Yemen

Azure Cloud Hit

An issue impacting MENA, South Asia, and beyond: Azure Cloud hit Microsoft cloud services disrupted by Red Sea cable cuts [image or embed] — Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 7...

Sun 15 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 7-9-2025AD
Human Rights, Migration, News Media

Media Coverage Research

NEW: An Oxford report warns that misleading media coverage is shaping public debate on immigration and human rights. The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases,...

Fri 13 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 5-9-2025AD
Syria Internet, Yemen Internet

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)

Important reporting from Christine Ro @forbes.com on digital violence in Syria (and beyond). [image or embed] — Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 5 September 2025 at 10:26 Here’s the link...

Wed 11 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 3-9-2025AD
Research

Reading List

Here are some recent publications on Islam and the internet which have caught my attention (detaills via Google Scholar). I’ve noted a great deal of new research, which I...

Wed 11 Rabi Al Awwal 1447AH 3-9-2025AD
Malaysia, TikTok

Malaysia TIikTok Issue

Reuters, Malaysia summons TikTok management over delays in tackling fake news, report says, 2 Sep 2025 “Malaysian authorities have summoned TikTok’s top management over the social media company’s alleged...

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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