Cyberspace gives access to an astounding amount of information on Islam. How do we find relevant data and possible answers to the questions one may have? Search engines are convenient tools but... Show moreCyberspace gives access to an astounding amount of information on Islam. How do we find relevant data and possible answers to the questions one may have? Search engines are convenient tools but have not been designed by specialists in Islam. Many sites, including top ranking hits, fail to plainly indicate the objectives of the individuals or organizations that maintain them, while many others are ephemeral. As a result, researching digital Islam constitutes a major methodological challenge for social scientists. Show less
The Nizari Ismailis are a global community of Shi'i Muslims living in more than twenty-five countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Australasia. They are led by His Highness Karim... Show moreThe Nizari Ismailis are a global community of Shi'i Muslims living in more than twenty-five countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Australasia. They are led by His Highness Karim Aga Khan, forty-ninth in a line of living hereditary imams. Increasingly, Ismailis become aware of the wide diversity within the larger community as well as of the vulnerability of various local groups and their particular traditions, in particular in Central Asia. Internet provides a means to address these concerns albeit that access to internet is as yet unevenly spread. Show less
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture was founded in 1988 and is registered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a private, non-denominational, philanthropic foundation. It is an integral part of the Aga Khan... Show moreThe Aga Khan Trust for Culture was founded in 1988 and is registered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a private, non-denominational, philanthropic foundation. It is an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, a family of institutions created by His Highness the Aga Khan, with distinct yet complementary mandates to improve the welfare and prospects of people in countries in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa. Show less
With the vastly expanding use and popularity of the world wide web in the closing decade of the 20th century, Muslims began presenting themselves on the web through sacred texts, images and stories... Show moreWith the vastly expanding use and popularity of the world wide web in the closing decade of the 20th century, Muslims began presenting themselves on the web through sacred texts, images and stories. This transmission includes hadith, the sayings and acts of the Prophet. Studying the transmission of the hadith through the internet and its function in the Islamic on-line discourse helps in understanding the conception of a new discourse of Islamic jurisprudence. Through the description of different formats of hadith, it is possible to analyse the complex relation between the texts and the new medium. Show less
Since the mid-1990s, Islamic webcontent has grown considerably. The distribution of fatwas, one of the most booming components of Islamic webcontent, is becoming a must for any Islamic website. In... Show moreSince the mid-1990s, Islamic webcontent has grown considerably. The distribution of fatwas, one of the most booming components of Islamic webcontent, is becoming a must for any Islamic website. In 1999 at least 10,000 fatwas were to be found online. In the year 2000 the number rose to at least 14,000 fatwas, and this year thousands more are sure to be added to the score. Since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the provision of fatwas has been an important social barometer. The interactive component of the internet has made online fatwa services not only possible, but easy and accessible as well. Such virtual services, however, impact certain Islamic beliefs and practices. Show less
