Tweeting the Qur'an

While you might want to ignore some of the inevitable discussion associated with this Reddit post, the graphic is interesting for those of us studying digital Islamic issues. I haven't explored the maths on this. I discuss Twitter and the Qur'an in my next book:

idarwishman, Reddit, 96% of the Quran is now tweetable with the new 280 character limit (inspired by the tweetable Bible graph) [OC], 15 Nov 2017

Interactive Qur'an app

Standard, Extreme vetting: Zeena Qureshi on her mission to combat terrorism with an interactive Koran app This relates to the Ananas Koran app, which I have yet to see. According to the Standard: "Currently there are a number of Koran apps with different translations of the text. The Ananas platform, in contrast, will give information on each verse, explaining what different denominations believe, showcasing research and allowing users to search by a theme or word to see every mention of it in the Koran."

ISIS vs. mainstream Muslims: The media war

Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Editor, ISIS vs. mainstream Muslims: The media war "Quoting Islam's holiest text to make that point was smart, said Hussein Rashid, a religion scholar at Hofstra University in New York. "ISIS violates every single tenet of this verse, so Barfi shows them to be ignorant," he said."

Religion goes digital: Saudi Arabia connects with instant Quran

IANS/twocircles.net, Religion goes digital: Saudi Arabia connects with instant Quran "Former Jamia Millia Islamia professor and writer Zubair Ahmad Farooqi admits to a change in the reading pattern of the Quran with inroads made by the Internet. ""Computer makes the Quran easily accessible, making reading more social. It is accessible to anybody who wants to learn and has become more relevant in the context of the recent misleading propaganda about Islam, stoking controversies in countries like India," Farooqi told IANS. "The "propaganda appears to have a silver lining because it is fuelling curiosity to acquire correct and authentic knowledge, presenting the text in a new light," he added."

'How Islamist Extremists Quote the Qur’an' - report

How Islamist Extremists Quote the Qur’an | CSC Center for Strategic Communication "This study analyzed the most frequently cited or quoted verses in the Center for Strategic Communication’s database of over 2,000 extremist texts. The texts date from the years 1998 to 2011, and originate primarily from the Middle East and North Africa. Taking this data as a starting point, we provide a qualitative analysis of the historical contexts and core narrative components of the cited passages."

This is an important topic. I have yet to read the report in detail, and it will be interesting to read feedback from academic researchers (and others) on this theme and the approach to this sensitive subject matter. I discussed some of the subject in my books, although not to the forensic detail that is suggested in the preamble of this report.

'Afghans aim to defuse failed suicide bombers with Koran'

Reuters UK, Afghans aim to defuse failed suicide bombers with Koran, 11 Jun 2012 "In a room full of would-be suicide bombers at a high security detention centre in the Afghan capital, an elderly cleric quietly reads out verses from the Koran, telling the young men the act of killing oneself is itself a crime in Islam." Interesting article, contains photos from inside the detention centre.

Nigeria: On the 'Qur'an Birth' Controversy

Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa, Daily Herald/allafrica.com, Nigeria: On the 'Qur'an Birth' Controversy, 25 May 2012 "A story recently published in some newspapers in Nigeria, and went viral on the Internet, that a baby was born clutching a copy of the noble Qur'an in his right hand, stirred up a controversy over its authenticity, scientific and religious explanations."

'Germany: A Koran in Every Household'

Gatestone Institute, Germany: A Koran in Every Household "Islamic radicals in Germany have launched an unprecedented nationwide campaign to distribute 25 million copies of the Koran, translated into the German language, with the goal of placing one Koran into every household in Germany, free of charge."

Fatwa allows Quran reading on smartphones

The National, Fatwa allows Quran reading on smartphones, 29 Mar 2012 

"Now, officially, Muslims in the UAE are allowed to stay connected to Islam while keeping up with today's fast-paced lifestyle.

 ""There isn't just one specified way of reading the Quran," said the fatwa, released by the Ifta centre of the Abu Dhabi General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf)."

  Abu Dhabi General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf)

Qur’an project for Filipinos launched

arabnews.com, Qur’an project for Filipinos launched, 30 Dec 2011 "The Industrial City Dawa Office will print 20,000 copies of the Qur'an translation and commentary in Tagalog for distribution among the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the world, said Fuad Kawther, general manager of IDCO. "“We'll also set up a website on the Internet for this Qur'an project, so that Tagalog speakers all over the world can access this great work,” Kawther told Arab News."

Cambridge Digital Library, Islamic Manuscripts

New and noted: Cambridge Digital Library, Islamic Manuscripts (includes several examples of Qur'anic manuscripts)

'Faith healers doing roaring business on the Internet'

Fatima Sidaya & Hayat al-Ghamdi, Arab News, Faith healers doing roaring business on the Internet, 1 Apr 2011 "Internet forums, especially those for women, are full of names and phone numbers for sheikhs. Only a few members suggested that people should depend on themselves when reading the Qur'an and do not need to look for others’ help. In most forums, visitors exchange and suggest particular names. Interestingly, only two "women sheikhs" were widely promoted. However, they did not pick up their phones when Arab News tried to contact them. As a matter of fact, all the sheikhs the team called had dua — or Islamic supplication — holding tones."

Very interesting article

Qur'an of Kansuh al-Ghuri digitised

The University of Manchester, Technology reunites one of world’s largest Korans, 19 Jan 2011 "Experts at the John Rylands Library are using digital technology and the internet to reunite the 470 page Rylands Koran of Kansuh al-Ghuri with two missing leaves, discovered in the 1970s at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.

"Up to now, scholars have been unable to study the precious items - thought to be at least 500 years old – because they are too fragile.

"But now, the reunited digitised resource will be freely available for research, teaching and learning using Turning the Pages technology on a dedicated website."

The related blog is very interesting Gateway to the Koran of Kansuh al-Ghuri. It charts the project's development in detail.

I look forward to seeing this in due course.

'Girl arrested for allegedly burning Qur'an'

Guardian, Girl arrested for allegedly burning Qur'an, 25 Nov 2010 "A 15-year-old girl has been arrested in the West Midlands on suspicion of inciting religious hatred after allegedly burning an English-language version of the Qur'an – and then posting video footage of the act on Facebook."

Quran Printing Center

abna.ir, Al-Azhar to Establish Quran Printing Center, 1 Nov 2010: "According to university spokesman Muhammad Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi, the decision was made following reports that some Quran copies printed in Egypt contain printing problems and errors."

Qur'an burning incident

Press Association/Guardian, Six held over suspected Qur'an burning, 23 Sep 2010

""The arrests followed the burning of what are believed to have been two Qur'ans in Gateshead on 11 September," the spokesman said. "The incident was recorded and a video placed on the internet."

"In a video posted on YouTube, six young men in hooded tops and scarves can be seen pouring petrol on a book and setting it alight, before burning another."

'Dude, you have no Qur'an!'

vancouversun.com, Angry Texas skateboarder grabs Qur'an from would-be burners: 'Dude, you have no Qur'an!', 15 Sep 2010

"After a Qur'an was soaked with kerosene, Isom took matters into his own hands, grabbing the book and leaving the group empty-handed.

""I snuck up behind him and took his Qur'an. He said something about burning the Qur'an and I was like, dude, you have no Qur'an, and ran off," Isom told an Amarillo TV news station."