Virtually Islamic News – Page 95 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Thu 23 Shawwal 1445AH 2-5-2024AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Gender, Taliban

Zahra Joya & Rukhshana Media

Great piece on Zahra Joya and Rukhshana Media: Annie Kelly, The Guardian, ‘They are trying to eradicate us completely’: the passion and pain of telling the stories of Afghan...

Wed 22 Shawwal 1445AH 1-5-2024AD
Apps, UAE, UAE Digital

‘Million‘ UAE startup

Arab News, Company on track ‘to build future of social media’: Million CEO, 1 May 2024 “Million, a UAE-based startup launched in February across the Middle East and North...

Wed 22 Shawwal 1445AH 1-5-2024AD
Censorship, WhatsApp

WhatsApp Bans

Secret WhatsApp activities amidst bans

Tue 21 Shawwal 1445AH 30-4-2024AD
‘Islamic State', al-Qaeda, ISKP, Journalism, Taliban

Jihad in perspective(s)

An overview of ‘jihad‘ movements:

Tue 21 Shawwal 1445AH 30-4-2024AD
‘Islamic State', Mozambique, Sub-Saharan Africa

IS-Mozambique

Photos of ‘Islamic State‘ in Mozambique.

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Digital Islam Across Europe, Qur'an, Sweden, Sweden internet,

Qur’an Burning Incidents in Sweden

Anna Grasso & Gary R. Bunt, Digital Islam Across Europe, Qur’an Burning Incidents in Sweden Here’s a blog post relating to online responses following the Qur’an burning incidents in...

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT

AFP/Jakarta Post, ChatGPT faces complaint for ‘uncorrectable errors’, 29 Apr 2024 “NOYB (“None of Your Business”) said there was no way to guarantee the programme provided accurate information. “ChatGPT...

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Abu Dhabi, Archives, Digital Archives, UAE, UAE Digital

Archiving the UAE

John Dennehy, The National, How the UAE is safeguarding its history in huge recording drive, 28 Apr 2024. “It has also teamed up with the UK’s National Archives to...

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Education, Gaza Protests, Israel-Gaza Conflict 2024

Gaza International Protests

Multiple campus protests have received substantial airtime and attention. Responses from authorities have been dramatic at times. Only selected clips/coverage are below. Opinions follow. Disclaimer applies, as always.

Mon 20 Shawwal 1445AH 29-4-2024AD
Influencers, Iraq, Iraq Internet, TikTok

Baghdad Influencer Murdered

The National, Iraq investigates killing of TikTok influencer in Baghdad, 27 April 2024 “A “specialised work team” had been set up to investigate the circumstances of the death of...

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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