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...

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Main Authors: Ali A. Al-Kandari, Ali Dashti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pluto Journals 2014-05-01
Series:Prometheus
Online Access:https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/08109028.2014.998929
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author Ali A. Al-Kandari
Ali Dashti
author_facet Ali A. Al-Kandari
Ali Dashti
author_sort Ali A. Al-Kandari
collection DOAJ
description <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. </p>
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spelling doaj.art-190f909df04b46c5b8e5df819f55aa3f2023-05-03T15:27:45ZengPluto JournalsPrometheus0810-90281470-10302014-05-0132212714410.1080/08109028.2014.998929Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi ArabiaAli A. Al-KandariAli Dashti<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. </p>https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/08109028.2014.998929
spellingShingle Ali A. Al-Kandari
Ali Dashti
Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
Prometheus
title Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
title_full Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
title_short Fatwa and the internet: a study of the influence of Muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in Saudi Arabia
title_sort fatwa and the internet a study of the influence of muslim religious scholars on internet diffusion in saudi arabia
url https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.1080/08109028.2014.998929
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