Islam in the Digital Age: E-Jihad, Online Fatwas and Cyber Islamic Environme (Critical Studies on Islam) [Paperback]

Gary R. Bunt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745320988 | ISBN-13: 978-0745320984 | Publication Date: July 20, 2003

The Internet is very big in the Arab world. After Al-Jazeera, it is the second most important source of dissenting opinion. Literally, millions of people in the Muslim world rely on web-sites to get their information and fatwas. A whole new life of cyber Imams and a new culture is emerging through Internet programmes and will have a profound effect on Arab consciousness. This book documents all this and examines various sites and offers the first comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Internet on Islamic culture.Zia Sardar, author of Postmodernism and the Other and Why Do People Hate AmericaThe Internet is an increasingly important source of information for many people in the Muslim world. Many Muslims in majority and minority contexts rely on the Internet -- including websites and e-mail -- as a primary source of news, information and communication about Islam. As a result, a new media culture is emerging which is having a significant impact on areas of global Muslim consciousness. Post-September 11th, this phenomenon has grown more rapidly than ever.Gary R. Bunt provides a fascinating account of the issues at stake, identifying two radical new concepts: Firstly, the emergence of e-jihad ('Electronic Jihad') originating from diverse Muslim perspectives -- this is described in its many forms relating to the different definitions of 'jihad', including on-line activism (ranging from promoting militaristic activities to hacking, to co-ordinating peaceful protests) and Muslim expression post 9/11. Secondly, he discusses religious authority on the Internet -- including the concept of on-line fatwas and their influence in diverse settings, and the complexities of conflicting notions of religious authority.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Internet is very big in the Arab world. After Al-Jazeera, it is the second most important source of dissenting opinion. Literally, millions of people in the Muslims world rely on web-sites to get their information and fatwas. A whole new life of cyber Imams and a new culture is emerging through Internet programmes and will have a profound effect on Arab consciousness. This book documents all this and examines various sites and offers the first comprehensive analysis of the impact of the Internet on Islamic culture." Zia Sardar, author of Postmodernism and the Other and Why Do People Hate America

About the Author

Gary R. Bunt is a lecturer in the Department of Theology, Religious Studies and Islamic Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter, United Kingdom. He has published two related books: Virtually Islamic: Computer-mediated Communication and Cyber Islamic Environments (Cardiff, University of Wales Press, 2000 and The Good Web Guide to World Religions (London: The Good Web Guide, 2001).

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (July 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745320988
• ISBN-13: 978-0745320984
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #430,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight, May 29, 2005

By 

Dr. Mohamed Taher (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Islam in the Digital Age: E-Jihad, Online Fatwas and Cyber Islamic Environme (Critical Studies on Islam) (Paperback)

This book is a valuable in three ways. First, it demonstrates that activism and decision-making are two dominant zones in Cyber Islamic Environments (p. 205). Second, it deals with changes in the post 9/11, reflected in sacred cyberspace (p. 2). Third, as I see, it goes in the deep Web to trace the e-content's human face. In fact, Bunt made history by writing Virtually Islamic --the book in hand is a sequel.

Bunt's analysis of the tacit knowledge, converts intangible information into tangible, which thereby becomes a model for return on investments in today's volatile e-world. Cybrarians, Sociologists, Middle East specialists, religionists, Orientalists, historians as well as public policy makers, will greatly benefit from this model developed by an active scholar-cum-Netizen. Any library that specializes in religion or area studies should possess it for their circulating collection, as it is more useful for a complete reading to get a clear picture of the emerging dynamics, whether it is `religion in Internet' and `religion on Internet'.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important survey of Islam online, November 12, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Islam in the Digital Age: E-Jihad, Online Fatwas and Cyber Islamic Environme (Critical Studies on Islam) (Paperback)

E-jihad, online Fatwas and other cyber Islamic environments are surveyed in quite a different critical study of Islam online. Islam In The Digital Age is the first comprehensive analysis of Muslims and Islam on the Internet to appear after 9/11: Islam In The Digital Age identifies issues and radical concepts of e-jihad, describes its different forms in the online environment ranging from on-line activism to hacking, and discusses religious insights into Islam on the Net. An important survey of Islam online.