Virtually Islamic News – Page 114 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Thu 1 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 14-12-2023AD
Arabic, Business, Music

Billboard Arabia

Arab News, Billboard Arabia launches its website and music charts, creating the ultimate destination to spotlight and discover Arab artists and music, 14 Dec 2023, “This launch comes at...

Wed 29 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 13-12-2023AD
Iran, Iran internet, Iran Protests 2023, Iranian internet, Iranian Social Media

Sadegh Boughi

Tue 28 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 12-12-2023AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, TikTok

TikTok Indonesia

CNN, TikTok is investing $1.5 billion to get back into online shopping in Indonesia, 11 Dec 2023 “China’s TikTok will invest $1.5 billion to become controlling shareholder of an e-commerce unit...

Mon 27 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 11-12-2023AD
Google, Research, Search Engines

Searching Issues

Articles associated with the Google Trends‘ Survey 2023 AP/Arab News, What did you Google in 2023? ‘Barbie,’ Israel-Hamas war are among the year’s top Internet searches, 11 Dec 2023...

Mon 27 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 11-12-2023AD
Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023

Zara backlash

Arab News, Social media users call for Zara boycott after ‘Gaza destruction-inspired’ ad campaign sparks uproar online, 10 Dec 2023 “Spanish fashion retailer Zara is facing an online backlash for...

Sat 25 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 9-12-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Browsers

Alternative Browsers

Reece Rogers, Wired, The Rise of AI in Alternative Browsers—and What’s Next, 4 Dec 2023 “Developers at smaller companies have been adding new ways to experience the internet with...

Sat 25 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 9-12-2023AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Education, Gender, Taliban

Afghanistan Education Breakdown

Fri 24 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 8-12-2023AD
Comic books, UAE Digital

UAE Comics

Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, A Comics Sandstorm Is Brewing In The Gulf As UAE Unveils Massive Investment In Creative Industries, 7 Dec 2023 “The festival is a showcase for Sandstorm, a...

Fri 24 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 8-12-2023AD
crypto, Cryptocurrencies, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, UAE Digital

Crypto Majlis

Irina Heaver, Forbes, A Bitcoin Vision: Ras Al-Khaimah Ruler’s Crypto Majlis Sets The Tone, 8 Dec 2023 “During the official launch of the RAK Digital Assets Oasis His Highness...

Wed 22 Jumada Al Oula 1445AH 6-12-2023AD
Politics, Russia, UAE

Putin in UAE

Coverage of/opinions about Putin’s UAE trip. He’ll be in Saudi Arabia afterwards.

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:

UAE Data Centres Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Satellites above KSA Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Handala Hack Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Dar al-Ifta Haseen platform Mon 15 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 26-10-2026AD

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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