2026 – Page 8 – Virtually Islamic News

Mon 20 Safar 1448AH 3-8-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI Investment

Mon 20 Safar 1448AH 3-8-2026AD
Google, Maps

Google (un-)Earth

Some issues with Google Earth here:

Mon 20 Safar 1448AH 3-8-2026AD
'Jihad', ‘Islamic State'

Recommended. BBC World Service, The Documentary Podcast, What is so-called ‘Jihadi cool’?, 2 Aug 2026 “The extremist content quietly spreading on TikTok and Instagram, targeting unsuspecting young people. Through...

Sat 18 Safar 1448AH 1-8-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, Research

‘The magic of black boxes‘

One for my Reading List: Bart Barendregt, The magic of black boxes: Explorations into the world of Southeast Asian Islam, emergent technologies and the unseen, Anthropological Theory 2026 DOI:...

Fri 17 Safar 1448AH 31-7-2026AD
Migration

Ceuta Situation

Social media is a driver in this issue: BBC News, Spain’s PM blames traffickers after 60,000 migrants reach Ceuta from Morocco, 31 Jul 2026 “Ceuta on the North African...

Wed 15 Safar 1448AH 29-7-2026AD
Radicalisation

Online Recruitment

Online recruitment issues here:

Fri 10 Safar 1448AH 24-7-2026AD
Arabic, Artificial Intelligence

Zoom Arabic Translation

Alvin R Cabral, The National, Zoom launches live voice translation, with Arabic coming in late 2026, 24 Jul 2026 “Added features include voice cloning, which preserves the original speaker’s...

Fri 10 Safar 1448AH 24-7-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, chatbots, Research

AI Chatbot ‘Threat‘

“A damning new report by Tech Against Terrorism has revealed the extent of the national security threat posed by AI chatbots, as would-be terrorists and violent extremists can enter...

Thu 9 Safar 1448AH 23-7-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, Fatwas

‘Rogue AI‘

Mon 6 Safar 1448AH 20-7-2026AD
Fatwas, Religious Authority

‘Wi-Fi Fatwa‘

“According to the fatwa, internet service agreements fall under contracts governing the use of services, making subscribers legally and religiously bound by their terms.”

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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