August 2026 – Page 3 – Virtually Islamic News

Wed 6 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 19-8-2026AD
Pakistan, Pakistan Internet, TikTok

Pakistan TikTok Murder

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar , Independent, Pakistani TikToker Shamso Bibi shot dead amid rising violence against women social media stars, 18 Aug 2026. “A 28-year-old Pakistani TikToker with more than 1.3 million...

Tue 5 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 18-8-2026AD
Academia, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, Research

‘Platform Islandization‘

One for my Reading List from Merlyna Lim (check out her other work too if you haven’t already): Lim, Merlyna. “Platform Islandization: The Making of the Computational Archipelago.” Verge: Studies...

Tue 5 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 18-8-2026AD
Hacking, Iranian internet

BlueSky DoS

Iran DoS BlueSky(?):

Tue 5 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 18-8-2026AD
Research

Data Control

It’s all about control:

Tue 5 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 18-8-2026AD
Arabic, Artificial Intelligence

Arabic AI

Some interesting content on AI Arabic issues; certainly an area requiring investment of time and research:

Mon 4 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 17-8-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence

‘Digital Resurrection‘

This would make for an interesting discussion on Islamic approaches and ethical dimensions of ‘Digital Resurrection‘:

Fri 1 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 14-8-2026AD
Podcasts, Research

Podcasting Islam in the Anglosphere

One for my Reading List: Shaheen Amid Whyte , Podcasting Islam in the Anglosphere: Muslim counterpublics in the UK, US and Australia, Media, Culture & Society, Volume 48, Issue...

Wed 29 Safar 1448AH 12-8-2026AD
Bioethics, Research

Organoids

The Organoids are coming. Seriously, this was a fascinating article. I’m already thinking: here’s a further zone that requires some Islamic research (unfortunately, that is my default mode).

Fri 24 Safar 1448AH 7-8-2026AD
Environment, Technology

Brick Lane Data Centre

“Save Brick Lane, a campaign group forged of nine local residents groups to block the redevelopment, branded the decision “deeply disappointing”.”

Wed 22 Safar 1448AH 5-8-2026AD
Gary R. Bunt, Research, Turkey, Turkey Internet, Türkiye, Türkiye,, YouTube

Kürsü 5.0 Türkiye

Among my plans for the next year or two: “The project aims to examine the transformations occurring in the production, circulation, and reception of religious knowledge in the context...

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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