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The aim of this paper is to investigate and to measure the efficiency of Islamic banks through a comparative study with their conventional counterparts during the coronavirus period for the case of MENA region.

Indeed, this study will use the parametric method for a panel of 92 banks, including 27 Islamic banks and 65 conventional banks, over a ten-year period (2012–2021) and from eight MENA countries, namely, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen and Tunisia.

The findings show that Islamic banks are more profitable than conventional banks before and during Covid-19, this result can be explained by the effectiveness of Shariah principles, differences in cost control, management and resource allocation. In addition, this study found that conventional banks outperformed Islamic banks after Covid-19.

This is a recent empirical study that investigates a timely and important topic.

In recent years, instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp have gained substantial popularity in both academic and practical domains. However, despite this growth, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview of the literature in this field. The primary purpose of this study is to bridge this gap by analyzing a substantial dataset of 12,947 articles retrieved from the Dimensions.ai, database spanning from 2011 to March 2023.

To achieve the authors' objective, the authors employ bibliometric analysis techniques. The authors delve into various bibliometric networks, including citation networks, co-citation networks, collaboration networks, keywords and bibliographic couplings. These methods allow for the uncovering of the social and conceptual structures within the academic discourse surrounding WhatsApp.

The authors' analysis reveals several significant findings. Firstly, the authors observe a remarkable and continuous growth in the number of academic studies dedicated to WhatsApp over time. Notably, two prevalent themes emerge: the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the role of WhatsApp in the realm of social media. Furthermore, the authors' study highlights diverse applications of WhatsApp, including its utilization in education and learning, as a communication tool, in medical education, cyberpsychology, security, psychology and behavioral learning.

This paper contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive overview of the scholarly research landscape related to WhatsApp. The findings not only illuminate the burgeoning interest in WhatsApp among researchers but also provide insights into the diverse domains where WhatsApp is making an impact. The analysis of bibliometric networks offers a unique perspective on the social and conceptual structures within this field, shedding light on emerging trends and influential research. This study thus serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners and policymakers seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of WhatsApp research. The study will also be useful for researchers interested in conducting bibliometric analysis using Dimensions.ai, a free database.