religious authority online – Virtually Islamic News

Tue 19 Rabi Al Awwal 1448AH 1-9-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, chatbots, Religious Authority

AI Religious Teachers

I’ve been writing about this issue (chapter out next year)

Thu 16 Ramadan 1447AH 5-3-2026AD
Artificial Intelligence, Fatwas, Qatar, Qatar digital, Religious Authority

FatwaTok

Not the best timing for a new product launch. Here are the details on FatwaTok: I missed the FatwaTok launch from #Qatar (inbetween everything else)...

Sat 14 Jumada Al Oula 1446AH 16-11-2024AD
Fatwas, Games, Religious Authority

Fatwa Overload?

My work has focused on the issue of ‘fatwa overload‘ (or frequent questions on ‘smaller‘ topics) for many years. This video neatly encapsulates the issues and frustrations surrounding it....

Mon 9 Shaban 1445AH 19-2-2024AD
France internet, Religious Authority

Imam Deportation

RFI, France to deport Tunisian imam for preaching against France, 19 Feb 2024 “In a video that was widely circulated on social media, Mahjoubli, a member of the local Muslim association,said...

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...

Fri 2 Safar 1445AH 18-8-2023AD
Indonesia Internet, Religious Authority, Research

Recent Research: HTI and FPI in West Java and Banten

MT Rahman, Post-Prohibition Da’wah of Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia and Islamic Defenders Front – Ilmu Dakwah: Academic Journal for Homiletic Studies, 2023 Another article for the Reading List. Abstract (extract):...

Fri 1 Shawwal 1444AH 21-4-2023AD
Ramadan, Religious Authority

Eid Mubarak

Mon 29 Rajab 1444AH 20-2-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Religious Authority

Towards AI Khutbah

Urooba Jamal, Hyphen, The ‘AI revolution’ is here. Could it soon be leading Friday prayers?, 20 Feb 2023 “OpenAI’s latest model appears to filter out content with an anti-Muslim...

Tue 29 Rabi Al Awwal 1444AH 25-10-2022AD
Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar, Religious Authority

Qaradawi Profile

Bettina Gr채f, Newslines, Qaradawi and the Struggle for Modern Islam: Understanding the late Yusuf al-Qaradawi is key to understanding the struggles of modern Islam Bettina Gr채f co-edited with Jakob...

Wed 9 Rabi Al Awwal 1444AH 5-10-2022AD
Academia, Conferences, Gary R. Bunt, Religious Authority

‘Sharia in Transition’

Here are some pix from the ‘Sharia in Transition’ conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 29-30 September 2022, organised by Dr. Mahmud El-Wereny and Prof. Dr. Alexander-Kenneth Nagel, where I gave...

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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