Blog Updates

This week's Virtually Islamic 2.0 blog includes updates on the following digital Islam stories:

Uighur monitoring

Dawn of the Code War

Fatwa against 'Battlegrounds'

Mawlid Celebration

Russian Twitter trolls stoking anti-Islamic sentiment in Australia, experts warn 

Matthew Hedges' Case

 

 

 

 

 

Internet fatwas: Muslims urged to carefully consider online advice

aseantoday.com, Internet fatwas: Muslims urged to carefully consider online advice "The MUI call for more honest and decent internet use comes after heated exchanges during the recent gubernatorial race in Jakarta. It is a good illustration of the rise of digital technology in spreading, and reinforcing, religious messages."

Would a fatwa stop Indonesia’s ‘fake news’?

scmp.com, Would a fatwa stop Indonesia’s ‘fake news’?, 24 Mar 2017 "Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical council is set to issue a religious decree that prohibits the circulation of fake news on the internet, underscoring rising concerns that hoaxes are inflaming ethnic and religious tensions in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation."

'Shari'a Law Meets the Internet'

Dennis MacEoin, gatestoneinstitute.org, Shari'a Law Meets the Internet, 8 Dec 2016

Analysis/opinion which includes a review of some Q&A/fatwa websites.

'Wi-Fi Fatwa'

Washington Post/Independent, Saudi scholar issues fatwa against stealing WiFi, 1 June 2016 ""We do not need a religious edict to pinpoint such basic things,” a Saudi blogger noted, according to the Gulf Times. “Private property should remain private, especially [since] the owner paid money for the services. Nobody should just take advantage.""

Wi-Fi Theft Fatwa

AP, Islamic authorities in Dubai are saying that wireless Internet belonging to neighbors cannot be used without their permission, 11 Apr 2016 "The edict says: "There is nothing wrong in using the line if your neighbors allow you to do so, but if they'd don't allow you, you may not use it.""

Saudi cleric issues fatwa on snowmen

Guardian, Saudi cleric issues fatwa on snowmen "Asked on a religious website if it was permissible for fathers to build snowmen for their children after a snowstorm in the country’s north, Sheikh Mohammed Saleh al-Munajjid replied: “It is not permitted to make a statue out of snow, even by way of play and fun.”"

Egypt’s Top Islamic Authority Prohibits Online Chatting Between Men and Women

egyptianstreets.com, Egypt’s Top Islamic Authority Prohibits Online Chatting Between Men and Women, 31 Aug 2014 "Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta issued a Fatwa (religious edict) on Saturday specifying that men and women are not permitted to engage in online chats if they do not know each other."

First Ever Fatwa Issued Against Wildlife Trafficking

nationalgeographic.com, First Ever Fatwa Issued Against Wildlife Trafficking:


Let's hope others follow this initiative. "This unprecedented step by the Indonesian Council of Ulama, in the country with the world's largest Muslim population, declares illegal hunting or illegal trading of endangered species to be haram (forbidden)."

How Mars Became Haram

How Mars Became Haram: A Guide to Freaky Fatwa News | MuslimMatters.org "I know what you're thinking- come on, it's just another one of those made-up fatwas, like last year's Great Syrian Sex Jihad and the Erotic Fruit and Vegetable Fatwa of 2011. Those were great fun for the media, and in all their journalistic glee, they forgot to check their stories. There is something to be said for journalistic integrity, unless there's a funny fatwa story. Then it's a free for-all."

Opinion piece

Fatwas against suicide bombing

Mohammad Jamil, Pakistan Observer, Fatwas against suicide bombing "On 12th December 2013, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti had condemned suicide bombings as grave crimes, reiterating his stance in very strong words. “Killing oneself is a grave crime and a grave sin. Those who kill themselves with explosives are criminals and are hastening their way to hell” Sheikh Abdulaziz was quoted as saying by the pan-Arab, Saudi-owned Al Hayat newspaper. Unfortunately, his fatwa was not given wide publicity; perhaps this was the reason that militants continued with suicide attacks destroying life and property of innocent people."

Number of Shia Fighters in Syria Could Rise Following Fatwa

VOA, Number of Shia Fighters in Syria Could Rise Following Fatwa, 16 Dec 2013   "How fighters are transported to Syria has become clearer recently with many of the volunteers posting online on Facebook and other social media sites how they got to Syria. Volunteers go to Iran initially and train there before flying to Lebanon from where they are taken into Syria with Hezbollah forces. Many of the fighters in their Internet postings say they were motivated to volunteer for Syria because of their determination to protect Shia shrines."

Fatwa Issued Against 3G Internet Operator in Iran

Al-Monitor, Fatwa Issued Against 3G Internet Operator in Iran - 19 Feb 2013: ""The decadence and corruption associated with [Rightel’s] use outweighs its benefits,” decreed Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi. “It will cause new deviances in our society, which is unfortunately already plagued with deviances.” Ayatollah Alavi Gorghani said that the video-call service would “jeopardize the public chastity” and “inflicts numerous damages” on Iran’s religion and political system."

Deoband Fatwas Confuse India Muslims (opinion)

Deoband Fatwas Confuse India Muslims, OnIslam.net "Fatwas issued by the Deobond seminary have become a source of controversy and confusion among India’s Muslims, with many criticizing the religious edicts as “outdated” and running counter to the modern age." Other perspectives are available on this.

"Fatwa frenzy"

alarabiya.net, Saudi Mufti says media attention drives preachers’ fatwa frenzy "Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz aal-Sheikh criticized on Sunday the arbitrary releasing of religious edicts by various Muslim preachers."

Darul Uloom Deoband fatwas

indianexpress.com, Fatwas are not necessarily binding on Muslims: Islamic Scholars "Recent Darul Uloom's fatwas advising Muslim women against working as receptionists and its decrees on tattoos and perfumes may have caused a stir, but Islamic scholars are of the view that such decrees are not necessarily binding on Muslims." More on Darul Uloom Deoband fatwas (also posted earlier this week on this).

Darul Uloom Deoband 'fatwas'

Rediff.com, Fatwa Factory: Black hair dye, Women receptionists,'un-Islamic': A collection of religious opinions or fatwas from Darul Uloom Deoband, complete with photographic illustrations (some more useful than others)

Satire: Saudi clerics “running out of day-to-day things to ban”

The Pan-Arabia Enquirer, Saudi clerics “running out of day-to-day things to ban.” satirical perspective

Iranian rapper under 'fatwa' threat

Deutsche Welle, Grand Ayatollah issues fatwa against exiled rapper. 16 May 2012 "Shahin Najafi fears for his life. He is currently in a secret location under police protection. Islamic clerics have accused the musician of blasphemy - a crime that, according to Islamic law, is punishable by death."

Full Body Scanners in Airports and Railway Stations

Just came across this opinion - which I thought might interest some readers, being a 'technological', religious, security and ethical issue: Deoband Darul Uloom Darul Ifta, Full Body Scanners in Airports and Railway Stations [click on in-page link to access pdf]