2025 – Page 7 – Virtually Islamic News

Tue 13 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 4-11-2025AD
Academia, China,, Uighurs,

Academic Concerns

These are very significant issues across the sector; in this case (there are many others) and it also relates to Uyghur Muslims. China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism...

Mon 12 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 3-11-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence

AI and the Visually Impaired

The New Arab, How AI is revolutionising life for the visually impaired in the Arab world, 3 Nov 2025. “Across the MENA region, blind and visually impaired individuals are...

Mon 12 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 3-11-2025AD
Research

AI Islam

Thoughts on AI/Islam issues from Relentless Reasoning; I explore some of these themes in Islamic Algorithms: Relentless Reasoning, Part 1: The Origins and Nature of AI Islam, 13 Oct...

Mon 12 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 3-11-2025AD
Books, Gary R. Bunt, Research

Islamic Algorithms

Commercial break The paperback of ‘Islamic Algorithms’ is available now; it’s the ‘book of the website‘, so if you want to tap into my research on cyber-Islamic environments, this...

Sat 10 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 1-11-2025AD
KSA, Music, Saudi Arabia

Seera

The National, Saudi all-women rock band Seera hit the right note on London debut, 31 Oct 2025 “All-women psychedelic rock band Seera have taken a leap forward for Saudi music, playing one of...

Wed 7 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 29-10-2025AD
Digital MENA, Gary R. Bunt, MENA, Metaverse, Research

‘The Muslim Metaverse‘

Just found this interesting discussion: "The Pre-Upload Age: Welcome to the Muslim metaverse" by Raza Tariq in Dazed, May ‘25 (briefly referencing ‘Islamic Algorithms‘). www.dazed.me/opinion/the-…...

Tue 6 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 28-10-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, KSA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

The ‘Infinite Workday‘ and KSA

“This “infinite workday” is becoming the norm. According to Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index, nearly 30 percent of employees check email late at night, while 40 percent are online...

Mon 5 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 27-10-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

KSA Faces AI Threats

Waad Hussain, Arab News, AI-powered threats test Saudi Arabia’s cyber defenses, 23 Oct 2025 “The Kingdom now faces one of the most aggressive cyberthreat landscapes in the world. Regional...

Mon 5 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 27-10-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, KSA

KSA AI Hub

Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, Saudi Arabia poised to become AI data center hub, says Groq CE), 27 Oct 2025 “Data, in comparison, “is very cheap to move,” [Jonathan] Ross, who...

Mon 5 Jumada Al Oula 1447AH 27-10-2025AD
KSA, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet

Humain AI Launch

Reuters, Saudi startup Humain to launch new AI-based operating system, 27 Oct 2025 “It sees systems such as its new product, Humain One, as an eventual alternative to icon-based...

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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