Exploring the intersection of Islam and digital technology: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This study aims to identify key developments and trends in digital Islamic studies, including influential authors and their contributions, patterns of collaboration, and the evolution of themes in the literature of the 1060 Scopus database from to 1969–2024. This study also examines the representation of women and the main theoretical frameworks in the field. Biblioshiny, R-Studio, VOSViewer, and N-Vivo were used for bibliometric and sentiment analyses. This study found that academic attention to Islam and digital technologies has increased since the early 2000s with a shift towards online platforms for religious expression and community building. The study also examines the role of key authors, such as Norah Abokhodair, Sarah Vieweg, Marcia C. Inhorn, Eva F. Nisa, Giulia Evolvi, Morgan Clarke, Patrick Eisenlohr and Emma Baulch. The analysis of trends in the digital Islamic literature shows an increasing integration of digital technologies in Islamic practice from 2008 to 2021, with a focus on social media and mobile applications for religious education and engagement. Since 2021, Instagram has become an important space for the expression and discussion of Islamic identity. The research examines digital Islam as a major area of digital religion, exploring the role of the 'digital Muslim' in the 'digital Ummah.' This study reveals how digital Islam blends conventional and modern techniques, employs a cross-disciplinary theoretical approach, and significantly includes women. These findings demonstrate that women are more visible in highly cited studies.