Virtually Islamic News – Page 122 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Thu 13 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 28-9-2023AD
al-Qaeda,, Research, Sayf al-Adl

aQ & Propaganda

Haid Haid, Al-Majalla, A book by al-Qaeda’s new leader reveals shifting strategies, 28 Sep 2023. A discussion of Sayf al-Adl’s Free Reading of 33 Strategies of War: “At the...

Thu 13 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 28-9-2023AD
Gary R. Bunt, Germany, Research

I’m part of an Islam in Digital Spaces (Islam in digitalen Räumen) lecture series organised by Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Gießen’s Zentrum für Islamische Studien. Contact the organisers for information. Details below:

Wed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 27-9-2023AD
e-commerce, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet, TikTok

Indonesian Tik-Tok Block

Dewi Kurniawati and Stanley Widianto, Reuters, In major blow to TikTok, Indonesia bans e-commerce transactions on social media, 27 Sep 2023 “The government said the move, which takes effect immediately, is...

Wed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 27-9-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Fatwas, Iran, Iran internet, Iranian internet, Religious Authority

Robot Fatwas

Vishwam Sankaran, Independent, Iranian officials mulling over use of AI to issue fatwas, 27 Sep 2023. Based on FT.com, ‘Robots can help issue a fatwa’: Iran’s clerics look to...

Wed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 27-9-2023AD
Iran, Iran internet, Iran Protests 2023, Iranian internet, Iranian Social Media, X

X label removal impact

The Hill, Russia, China, Iran state media see boost on X after removal of ‘state-affiliated’ labels, 26 Sep 2023 “The accounts of several Russian, Chinese and Iranian state media...

Wed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 27-9-2023AD
Apps, Arabic, Pakistan Internet, Urdu

Digital Urdu

Anmol Irfan, Time, The Fight to Preserve the Urdu Script in the Digital World, 27 Sep 2023 “The Matnsaz app is part of a larger initiative by the same...

Wed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 27-9-2023AD
Gary R. Bunt, Podcasts

Nostalgia Podcast

I’m on Chris Deacy’s Nostalgia podcast, which delves into my pre-academic activities, and certainly brought back some personal memories:

Tue 11 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 26-9-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Iran internet, Religious Authority

Iran AI Fatwa

Noor al-Sibai, Futurism, The Byte, Iranian Authorities Say AI Could Help Issue Fatwas Faster Than Ever Before, 26 Sep 2023. “Government officials in Iran are looking to modernize —...

Tue 11 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 26-9-2023AD
crypto, Cryptocurrencies, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE Crypto

The National, UAE’s crypto transactions hit nearly $35bn amid rising regulatory clarity, 26 Sep 2023. “The value of cryptocurrency transactions received by the UAE reached nearly $35 billion between July 2022...

Mon 10 Rabi Al Awwal 1445AH 25-9-2023AD
Iran, Iran internet, Iranian Social Media, Podcasts, Research, Syria Internet

Podcast: ‘Who Referees Cyberspace?’

New podcast Disorder contains interesting interviews with Asha Rangappa and David Patrikarakos.

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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