Morocco: “The women scholars here are even more important than men.”

Dina Temple-Raston, The Female Quran Experts Fighting Radical Islam in Morocco "The morchidat program leverages a woman’s familial and social influence to combat radical Islam at the level of the sidewalks—and at individual mosques. “We’ve found over the years that if we have women organize something at the mosque, 450 people show up. If the men are put in charge, they’re lucky if 25 guys make the effort,” El-Azaar said."

Islam, Women and Me

BBC, Islam, Women and Me, 31 Jan 2018

Mehreen Baig's very personal documentary, which includes a visit to a 'Sharia Council', a discussion on dating apps, and her negotiations with her father about moving out ... The programme is available on iPlayer for the next month.

Malaysia: Cryptocurrency

Mohd Noor Omar, Star Online, Resolving cryptocurrency conflicts, 16 Jan 2018 "Ikim will be conducting a roundtable discussion next month on the issue and will gather experts to present their views on cryptocurrency, with discussions on the syariah compatibility, compliance and governance."

Forthcoming book: Imams in Western Europe

Mohammed Hashas, Jan Jaap de Ruiter, Niels Valdemar Vinding (editors), Imams in Western Europe (Amsterdam University Press)

This book is coming out in April 2018 - although appears quite expensive at €129. Here's the description:

"As European Muslims and Muslims in the Middle East diverge, imams in Europe have emerged as major agents of religious authority who shape Islam’s presence in Western societies. This volume examines the theoretical and practical questions concerning the evolving role of imams in Europe. To what extent do imams act as intermediaries between European states and Muslim communities? Do states subsidise imam training? How does institutionalisation of Islam differ between European states?"

I understand from Facebook that Claudia Carvalho has a chapter in it on "‘i-Imams studying female Islamic authority online’"

Religion, Media, and Materiality: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Religious Authority

This looks like an interesting programme. CERES, Religion, Media, and Materiality: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Religious Authority, 17-19 Jan 2018 "Religious practice necessarily involves the use of media to bridge the gap between immanence and transcendence. Scholarship has been increasingly interested in the relationship between religion and media and how material and immaterial objects become entangled in religious belief-systems and practices. In this respect, the issue of authority emerges as paramount."

"That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac."

Rayana Khalaf, Stepfeed, This Muslim sheikh's tweets about frequent questions will crack you up - "That’s not a Hadith. That’s Tupac." "While Muslim clerics and preachers are often thought of as characteristically serious and stern, this Florida-based lecturer is all about humor, especially on social media."

The Complicated Pain of America's Queer Muslims

theatlantic.com, The Complicated Pain of America's Queer Muslims, 14 June 2016 "In the midst of a post-Orlando debate that pits Islamophobia against homophobia, LGBT members of the Islamic community find themselves trying to balance multiple identities." online element to this discussion

'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.""

'Not all marriages are equal'

altmuslimah.com, Not all marriages are equal: Islamic marriage, Temporary Marriage, Secret marriage and Polygamous marriage

Shutdown of seminaries in Pakistan

indianexpress.com, Pakistan shuts down 254 religions seminaries involved in extremism, 25 Feb 2016 "167 suspected seminaries in Sindh, 13 in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, two in Punjab, and 72 unregistered seminaries in Sindh have been closed."

Converting the preachers

The Economist, Converting the preachers "Now Saudi preachers face a new constraint: starting next year authorities will install centrally monitored cameras in every mosque to record what goes on inside. The move is ostensibly meant to prevent theft and regulate energy use, but few doubt the real intention is to tighten the state’s grip on Islam, part of a trend across the Middle East."

Saudis tweet anger at religious police following car chase death

alarabiya.net, Saudis tweet anger at religious police following car chase death "A Twitter user named @talal tweeted: “The religious police had killed people in al-Madina, and killed in Tabuk, and Baljurashi and today they killed in Al-Riyadh and on National Day. The Haia are blood thirsty.”"

Religious authority, state power and revolutions

Hatem Bazian, aljazeera.com, Religious authority, state power and revolutions "The current conflicts and competing fatwas from Sunni religious authorities in response to events in Egypt and Syria, point to a deeper problem, the clear intellectual and institutional fragmentation witnessed among scholars (Ar) at the highest levels." Opinion/analysis by Hatem Bazian, who is editor of the Islamophobia Studies Journal The 2012 inaugural issue is still available for download (haven't read it yet)

'Shiny nails may be halaal'

timeslive.co.za, Shiny nails may be halaal "Cosmetics company Inglot has applied to the Muslim Judicial Council for its 02M "breathable" nail enamel to be certified halaal .

"Sheik Moosa Titus, chief of operations at the council's Halaal Trust, said the council was considering the application."

Malaysia: 'False hadiths through internet'

Bernama, Use fo False Hadis through Internet Wrong in Islam, 27 Feb 2012

"Facebook Un-Islamic"

The Jakarta Globe, Facebook Un-Islamic, Membership a Sin, Iranian Ayatollah Says, 7 Jan 2012 "ISNA on Saturday broadcast coverage of the response of Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani, a senior cleric, to the question about Facebook and Iranian membership in the social networking service.

"“Basically, going to any Web site which propagates immoralities and could weaken the religious belief is un-Islamic and not allowed, and membership in it is therefore haram [a sin],” the ayatollah replied."

'Solehah' Malaysian Islamic reality TV

Reuters, Islamic reality TV show in Malaysia seeks best women preachers, Jun 18 2011

"The 13-episode prime time program titled "Solehah," an Arabic word meaning "pious female," is a talent contest that will feature charismatic young Muslim women judged by clerics on their religious knowledge as well as their oratory skills and personality."

Clips from 'Imam Muda' were popular online, so expect this series to be similarly followed through the net.

There are some good audition photos available here: fotowarung.net, 'Solehah', 18 Jun 2011

Ghana: sermon from Sheikh Hussein Idris Molah

Ghana News Agency, Muslims enjoined to desist from usage of drugs, 12 Jun 2011 "Sheikh Idris Molah advised Muslim parents not to close their eyes against the negative practices of Muslim youth, who indulge in ‘Sakawa’ (Internet Fraud), get rich quick attitude, western cultures and indecent dressing but rather to continue to admonish them to lead decent lifestyles. "

KSA: Women, driving and net activism [update]

MuslimMatters.org, The Rosa Parks of Saudi Arabia: Women Challenging the Ban by Driving | comprehensive coverage relating to women driving in Saudi Arabia. It links to tweets and video. The reader discussion is also interesting.

Follow this on twitter, for example here #Women2Drive.

There's also a Facebook page #Women2Drive


Also see this video on YouTube, SaudiWomenDrive.mov:

Related coverage:

aljazeera.net, Saudi woman detained for driving, 22 May 2011

Use technology to spread message of religion: Imam of grand mosque in Mecca

indianexpress.com, Use technology to spread message of religion: Imam of grand mosque in Mecca, 27 Mar 2011 "The Imam of Masjid-al-Haram in Mecca, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, on a three-day visit to India, spoke to a congregation at the Ramlila Maidan on Saturday. The programme, organised by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, saw capacity crowd.

"The Imam said the followers of Islam should use advances in technology to take the message of the religion across the world. “If the Sahabah (companions of Prophet Muhammad) had not gone about spreading the Prophet’s message, Islam would not have grown. The followers of Islam should, therefore, use the Internet and electronic media to spread the religion in the modern times,” he said."