Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
<p class="first" id="d272220e99">This study uses diffusion of innovations theory to examine the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia. It applies content analysis to the fatwa, the religious edicts that Muslim r...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pluto Journals
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Prometheus |
| Online Access: | https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/08109028.2014.998929 |
| Summary: | <p class="first" id="d272220e99">This study uses diffusion of innovations theory to examine the influence of Muslim
religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia. It applies content analysis
to the fatwa, the religious edicts that Muslim religious scholars issue, to explore
fatwa decisions relating to the internet since its launch in Saudi Arabia in 1999.
There are 34 fatwa in total, 11 with approving decisions, 11 with disapproving ones,
and 12 with conditionally approving decisions. Those who issue approving fatwa argue
that it helps to spread the word of Allah and that if Muslims do not exploit the opportunities
provided by the internet, then non-Muslims and non-believers will use it for evil.
To explain their disapproving fatwa, other scholars argue that the internet corrupts
people. The study discusses the impact of religion and religious scholars on the dissemination
of communication technologies in Saudi society. It also predicts a pattern of opinions
that scholars may be expected to adopt on the introduction of any new communication
technology that is culturally controversial.
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| ISSN: | 0810-9028 1470-1030 |