Table Of ContentMuslims and the New Media
Historical and Contemporary Debates
Göran Larsson
MusliMs and the new Media
scholars from an extensive range of academic disciplines have focused on islam
in cyberspace and the media, but there are few historical studies that have outlined
how Muslim ‘ulama’ have discussed and debated the introduction and impact of
these new media.
Muslims and the New Media explores how the introduction of the latest information
and communication technologies are mirroring changes and developments
within society, as well as the Middle east’s relationship to the west. examining
how reformist and conservative Muslim ‘ulama’ have discussed the printing
press, photography, the broadcasting media (radio and television), the cinema,
the telephone and the internet, case studies provide a contextual background
to the historical, social and cultural situations that have influenced theological
discussions; focusing on how the ‘ulama’ have debated the ‘usefulness’ or
‘dangers’ of the information and communication media. By including both
historical and contemporary examples, this book exposes historical trajectories
as well as different (and often contested) positions in the islamic debate about the
new media.
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Muslims and the new Media
historical and Contemporary debates
Göran larsson
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
© Göran larsson 2011
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
Göran larsson has asserted his right under the Copyright, designs and Patents act, 1988,
to be identified as the author of this work.
Published by
ashgate Publishing limited ashgate Publishing Company
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
larsson, Göran.
Muslims and the new media : historical and contemporary debates.
1. Mass media–religious aspects–islam. 2. Mass media–technological innovations–
social aspects–islamic countries. 3. islam in mass media. 4. ulama–attitudes.
i. title
303.4’833’088297-dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
larsson, Göran.
Muslims and the new media : historical and contemporary debates / Göran larsson.
p. cm.
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-1-4094-2750-6 (hardcover) – isBn 978-1-4094-2751-3 (ebook) 1. Mass
media–religious aspects–islam. 2. islam in mass media. i. title.
BP185.7.l37 2011
297.2’66–dc22
2011008609
isBn 9781409427506 (hbk)
isBn 9781409427513 (ebk)
III
Contents
List of Tables vii
Preface ix
Introduction 1
1 The Print Revolution 21
2 Muslim Conflicts over Images, Photography and the Representational
Arts 47
3 ‘Ulama’ and the Motion Picture: The Transformative Effect of
Information and Communication Technologies 71
4 From Airwaves to Satellite Television 99
5 ‘The Invisible Caller’: Islamic Opinions on the Use of the Telephone 127
6 ‘Do Not Engage in Unnecessary Chatting’: Fatwas on Internet
Etiquette for Muslims 145
7 The Ultimate Test: The Qur’an and Information and Communication
Technologies 167
Conclusions 193
References 201
Index 221
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List of Tables
4.1 Opinions on television 117
6.1 ‘Negative’ and ‘positive’ effects of the Internet 165
C.1 Media, Problems and Possibilities 194
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Preface
The research for this book was mainly carried out during my time as a post-doctoral
researcher in the academic program LearnIT, funded by the Swedish Knowledge
Foundation (KK-stiftelsen). It goes without saying that my years in the LearnIT
program have changed my view of academic work and how to do research. My
interest in Islam and Muslim cultures has never been questioned, nor has my
ability to contribute to the group ever been placed in doubt. I would therefore like
to thank all members of the LearnIT group for their openness, interest, knowledge,
kindness and generosity. My special appreciation goes to Professor Roger Säljö,
Professor Ulf P. Lundgren, research colleagues Dr Jonas Linderoth, Dr Thomas
Karlsohn and Dr Ove Jobring, Dr Anna-Karin Ramsten, Dr Louise Lindberg
and the ‘mother’ of the project, Doris Gustafson. Besides these key members, I
must also thank all the participants in the extended network of LearnIT and the
Knowledge Foundation.
I would also like to express my gratitude to a number of colleagues at the
Department of Literature, History of Ideas, Religion of University of Gothenburg .
Some colleagues have made greater efforts than others, and I would like to express
my deepest gratitude to Professor Åke Sander, Professor Bertil Nilsson, Professor
Gudmar Aneer (now at Högskolan Dalarna), Dr Daniel Andersson, Associate
Professor Henrik Bogdan, Dr Ferdinando Sardella, PhD candidate Simon
Sorgenfrei and the other participants in the higher seminar. Besides the religious
scholars at the University of Gothenburg, I would also like to express my gratitude
to PhD candidate Aurora Tellenbach and Dr Mats Björkin of the Department of
Culture, Aesthetics and Media and the Centre of Middle Eastern Studies, as well
as Muhammad Muslim, Assistant Professor Heidi Campbell at the Department of
Communication, Texas A&M University for important information about Jewish
opinions on the cell phone, and Robert Parkin at Oxford University. They have all
contributed to this project in various ways.
Over the years, I have also been fortunate to present some of the preliminary
results of this book at conferences and academic meetings. The comments I
have received during these meetings have been invaluable for the development
and refinement of this study. Opportunities to attend a number of international
conferences and meetings were made possible by the generous support of LearnIT
and the Knowledge Foundation. I thank both organisations for all their support.
During the process of writing this book, I was invited to stay as a guest
researcher at the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Leiden, the
Netherlands. During my stay I had the great opportunity, and pleasure, to work
under the guidance of Professor P.S. van Koningsveld and Dr Amr Ryad. I thank
Sjoerd for his kind hospitality and academic professionalism and Amr for inviting
