Virtually Islamic News – Page 149 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Tue 27 Ramadan 1444AH 18-4-2023AD
Russia, Turkey Internet

Turkey Twitter

Ragip Soylu, Middle East Eye, Turkey elections: Thousands of Russian Twitter accounts reactivated in Turkish “Thousands of Russian- and Hungarian-speaking Twitter accounts have been reactivated as Turkish users weeks...

Mon 26 Ramadan 1444AH 17-4-2023AD
Egypt Internet, Ramadan

Egypt TV Confusion

The New Arab, Easter Mass, Ramadan Taraweeh prayer mix up costs Egypt TV director his job “A local TV channel in Egypt accidentally wrote Easter Mass on the screen...

Fri 23 Ramadan 1444AH 14-4-2023AD
'Islamic State', Radicalisation

‘IS’ UK Recruit

Duncan Gardham, Sky News, Shabazz Suleman: British IS recruit who claimed he spent time in Syria ‘on Playstation’ pleads guilty to terror offence, 14 April 2023 “A former grammar...

Thu 22 Ramadan 1444AH 13-4-2023AD
Kuwait internet

‘Fedha’ Virtual Presenter Controversy

Arab News, Kuwait News’ first virtual presenter makes bad headlines among Arab social media users, 13 Apr 2023 “Despite having a popular Kuwaiti name, the artificial intelligence-powered presenter, who...

Thu 22 Ramadan 1444AH 13-4-2023AD
China,, Human Rights, Surveillance, Uighurs,

Uyghur Research

Important research from Sheffield University. This issue has a strong technological element, hence the inclusion in this blog: David Tobin & Nyrola Elimä, “We know you better than you...

Thu 22 Ramadan 1444AH 13-4-2023AD
Hajj, Mecca, umrah

Mosque Digital Bracelets

The latest digital innovation in Makkah and Madinah.

Tue 20 Ramadan 1444AH 11-4-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, Digital Art, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine

Al-Aqsa

Danylo Hawaleshka, Al Jazeera, History Illustrated: The war on Al-Aqsa

Tue 20 Ramadan 1444AH 11-4-2023AD
Egypt Internet, Influencers

Egypt: Social Media Influencers

France24, Egypt’s female social media influencers face arrest, jail on ‘morality’ charges, 11 Apr 2023 “Egyptian authorities have since 2020 carried out a campaign to silence female social media...

Mon 19 Ramadan 1444AH 10-4-2023AD
Apps, Education, Qatar

Siraj

alBawaba Signal/Qatar Foundation, Press Release, QF’s Siraj uses storytelling and animation to teach children about Islamic values, 10 Apr 2023 “Siraj will continue to air through Ramadan, every Friday...

Mon 19 Ramadan 1444AH 10-4-2023AD
Crime, Jordan Internet, Ramadan

Ramadan Scammers

Rana Tayseer, Jordan Times, Awqaf Ministry warns against Internet scammers cashing in on Ramadan generosity, 8 Apr 2023 “The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is warning citizens to...

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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