Virtually Islamic Blog

Gary R. Bunt

Religious Authority

Imam Duplicate

Simulcast sermons feature in this unusual clip … Discover More…

Zoom 'Islamic Intimacy'

An interesting example of how webinars can be used to discuss complex and sensitive issues… Discover More…

Moon Sightings

Moon sightings back in the news (if not in the skies) Discover More…

'Hometown'

BBC, New BBC Sounds investigative podcast Hometown: A Killing with award-winning journalist Mobeen Azhar
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'Shaykh Google'

I'm currently reading: Emad Hamdeh, 'Shaykh Google as Ḥāfiẓ al-ʿAṣr: The Internet, Traditional ʿUlamā’, and Self Learning ' via Academia Discover More…

Gomaa's Opinion on Alcohol(?)

The New Arab, Egyptian cleric claims alcohol consumption does not invalidate a Muslim's fast
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'The Net Imam Paradox: Leadership, Authority and Representation in Cyberspace'

In January 2019, I gave a presentation entitled 'The Net Imam Paradox: Leadership, Authority and Representation in Cyberspace' at Cardiff University, which has just been released on YouTube. Discover More…

Polio in Pakistan

The News (Pakistan), Polio remains an endemic in Pakistan
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Mixed-gender prayers

Developments in Paris Discover More…

Public Lecture

Looking forward to meeting researchers with related interests at the Université du Québec à Montréal, where I'm giving a public lecture today - part of the Canadian Muslims Online programme. Discover More…

Abdullah al-Faisal

Observer, Preacher who inspired Streatham terror attack peddling jihad from behind bars
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Breaking bad?

Vice, Indonesian Religious Leader Claims Meth is Halal Discover More…

Indonesia & Netflix

SCMP, Is Netflix haram? Indonesia’s Islamic clerics are ready for a fatwa – if you are Discover More…

Conference from Hurma Project

Aysha Khan, RNS, ‘A long time coming’: These Muslims are bringing sex abuse by sheikhs out of the shadows
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Maldives Net

raajje, Islamic Ministry appeals for religious scholars to actively condemn extremism
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Yasir Qadhi Analysed

Garrett Kiriakos-Fugate, Yasir Qadhi, Homophobia, and Preaching a Muslim Men’s Heterosexual Piety
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Abdul Somad

Coconuts, Indonesian preacher Abdul Somad says chess ‘waste of time’ and haram, religious affairs ministry responds, ‘we’ll be a laughing stock’
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Iran's Anti-Dog Laws

Salam Bustanji, AlBawaba.com, 'It is a Sin to Walk Your Dog!' Iran's Anti-Dog Laws are Treating Pet Owners as Criminals
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Aceh Punishment

Guardian, Indonesian man flogged after breaking adultery law he helped draw up
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AI Virtual Ifta Initiative

The 'Virtual Ifta' service launched in Dubai. I've collected some of the coverage, and made a few observations. I took a quick look, but didn't try the WhatsApp element. Android/Apple apps are planned for this service, which is still in the early stages, which will improve ease of use. Question options are restricted at the moment. At this point, it is very much in launch mode. I will continue to monitor developments. Discover More…

MUIS Fatwas

Today, The former Catholic school student now shaping fatwas on modern Muslim life Discover More…

Internet and Muslim Women

Just been reading this useful paper, which came out earlier in the year: Eva F. Nisa (2019), Internet and Muslim Women. In: Woodward M., Lukens-Bull R. (eds) Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives. Springer, Cham Discover More…

Aceh and Religious Authority

Ana Salvá, The Diplomat, Aceh, Indonesia: When Dating Meets Sharia Law
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'Wahhabism Confronted'

Reuters, Wahhabism confronted: Sri Lanka curbs Saudi influence after bombings
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MENA Survey

BBC News, The Arab world in seven charts: Are Arabs turning their backs on religion?

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Religious Authority and the net

New and noted: Hira Amin, 'British Muslims Navigating between Individualism and Traditional Authority', 'Religions' Journal (haven't read it all yet!) Discover More…

El Fadl on KSA Scholars

Usuli Institute, Khaled Abou El Fadl Speaks at Protest for Saudi Scholars, 2 June 2019 [published 7 June 2019 on YouTube]
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'WhatsApp Alim'

Quartz, Haleem or Daleem? WhatsApp university fuels debate over Ramzan delicacy Discover More…

Muslim Millennials Online

Hussein Kesvani, Times Magazine, Inside the online world of Muslim millennials, 18 May 2019
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Islam in Japan

Just found this, which came out last year about Islam in Japan from #MURAKAMIRAMLAHI #DOPStv

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Tajikstan Internet

Fighting Fire With Firefox: Imam Uses Internet To Urge Tajiks Not To Use Internet
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Ongoing Australia Case

ABC Australia, Man searched online for Islamic punishments for wife's infidelity before murder, court told
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Muslim Celebrity Culture & 'Trauma Tourism'

Vanessa Taylor, Al Jazeera, Opinion piece, The problem with Muslim Celebrity Culture
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Megaphones in Mosques

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says megaphones should only be used for 'adhan' in mosques
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Qatar preacher opinion

Stepfeed, Muslim preacher thinks there is a 'right' way for men to beat their wives Discover More…

Indonesian Instagram Preachers

PRI, Indonesia’s Muslim youth find new heroes in Instagram preachers Discover More…

Cyber-muftis

Alexandre Caeiro, Daily Sabah, Cyber-muftis, digital fatwas - the ongoing transformation of religious authority
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Religious Authority Online

Alexandre Caeiro, Daily Sabah, Cyber-muftis, digital fatwas - the ongoing transformation of religious authority Discover More…

Pakistan book

New book on Pakistan's Shi'a population: Discover More…

Religious Opinion

Stepfeed, Saudi cleric says bribery is OK sometimes, but Muslims don't agree
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Saudi Show Stopped

al-Jazeera, Saudi Arabia suspends TV show that aired critical views, 5 Mar 2019 Discover More…

Iran Net Influencers

NHK, Changes in Iran 40 years after the revolution
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Fuadh Naim K-Pop Claim

Jakarta Post/Straits Times, K-pop promotes LGBT lifestyles and free sex, famous Indonesian preacher tells Muslim fans
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Snapchat filters interpreted

stepfeed, Snapchat filters are apparently 'haram in Islam' according to this Saudi cleric
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Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

Al Jazeera, Prominent Saudi scholar Ahmed al-Amari dies in prison: Activists

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Updated: Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities

Islam UK Centre, Cardiff. Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities Discover More…

Conference on Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities

Cardiff University, Conference on Leadership, Authority and Representation in British Muslim Communities I'm giving a short paper at this event, on 21st January, 2019. My paper is entitled "The Net Imam Paradox: Contesting Leadership, Religious Authority and Representation in Cyberspace"
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Religious Authority between Generations

Economist, Young Muslims challenge the old guard at Britain’s mosques
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True Origins of ISIS

Hassan Hassan, The Atlantic, The True Origins of ISIS: A secret biography suggests that Abu Ali al-Anbari defined the group’s radical approach more than any other person, 30 Nov 2018
Important article from Hassan Hassan.

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Afghanistan bomb blast hits religious scholars

aljazeera.com, Suicide bombing at Kabul religious gathering kills dozens
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The Fatwa Life Cycle

The Fatwa Life Cycle Discover More…

Hashtag Islam

'Hashtag Islam' is officially out this week, in hardback, paperback and e-book formats (in some markets, different dates apply to some of these elements). The book is the culmination of several years research. I welcome feedback from readers via this website or through social media.

Book details

Related Research

Richard A. Nielsen, Deadly Clerics: Blocked Ambition and the Paths to Jihad (Cambridge University Press, 2017)

I was interested to see information on this book, published in 2017. I haven't read it yet (just ordered a copy). Dr Richard Nielsen is also working on issues associated with religious authority and the internet. I will update on the book once I have read it.

Memes and Madhabs

Faisal Ali, On Religion, Memes and Madhabs 15 September 2018

"The memes started a few weeks back by
Zain Siddiqi, a young Muslim from Phoenix, Arizona.
“It began as a bit of fun” he told me. “I really enjoy making memes, but I also enjoy studying Islamic law and different aspects of the religion.”
“Initially I just thought I would tweet one out and it would get 10 likes or something, and I would just go back to making mundane political commentary on whatever was happening” he continues. “But all of a sudden people were saying how much they enjoyed them and how much they were learning from them.”

Diversity in Islam approached through memes.


Saudi Arabia Seeks Death Penalty Against Prominent Cleric

Bloomberg.com, Saudi Arabia Seeks Death Penalty Against Prominent Cleric, 4 September 2018 "Salman Al-Odah was detained in September 2017. Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said at the time that the roundup of a diverse group of clerics, businessmen and intellectuals had targeted people who were “pushing an extremist agenda” with the help of foreign funding." Analysis/commentary.
I discuss Al-Odah in 'Hashtag Islam'.

Hajj Representation

It's been interesting to review the output of CIC Saudi Arabia on Twitter during Hajj 2018, presenting human stories within the hajj.  Some examples are below (check my @garybunt Twitter feed for more):

















The following video isn't on theYouTube channel yet, but here's a Twitter link: in contemporary times, the long distance journey to hajj on foot becomes all the more remarkable #hajj CIC Saudi Arabia, [@CICSaudi], "Hajj is over but for Othman AlShahin the journey is not over yet. The man who walked 450km to Hajj (the equivalent distance of #Paris to #Geneva) is now on his way home by foot. "



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