HASHTAG ISLAM

Gary R Bunt is a twenty-year pioneer in the study of cyber-Islamic environments (CIEs). In his new book, Bunt explores the diverse and surprising ways digital technology is shaping how Muslims across vast territories relate to religious agendas. From social networks to websites, essential elements of religious practices and authority now have representation online. Muslims embracing the immediacy and general accessibility of the internet, are increasingly turning to cyberspace for advice and answers to important religious questions. Online environments often challenge traditional models of authority, however. One result is the rise of digitally literate religious scholars and authorities whose influence and impact go beyond traditional boundaries of imams, mullahs and shaikhs. Bunt shows how online rhetoric and social media are being used to articulate religious faith by many different kinds of muslim organisations and individuals, from Muslim comedians and women's rights advocates to jihad-orientated groups, such as the 'Islamic State' and al-Qaeda, which now clearly rely on strategic digital media policies to augment and justify their authority and draw results. This book makes clear that understanding CIEs is crucial for the holistic interpretation of authority in contemporary Islam.

Gary R Blunt is professor of Islamic studies at University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.