The Role of Islamic Ethical Principles in the Development and Deployment of Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Keywords:
Islamic Ethics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technology and Morality, Shariah Compliance, Ethical AI GovernanceAbstract
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has brought forth unprecedented opportunities alongside complex ethical challenges. While global ethical frameworks emphasize principles such as transparency, accountability, and human dignity, the integration of Islamic ethical principles offers a distinctive and holistic moral framework rooted in divine guidance. This paper explores the pivotal role Islamic ethics can play in guiding the development and deployment of AI technologies, particularly within Muslim-majority societies and in global discourse. Drawing from foundational sources such as the Qur’an, Hadith, and Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), the study emphasizes key values including Adl (justice), Amanah (trust), Maslahah (public interest), Hurmah (sanctity of life and privacy), and Tawheed (oneness of God) as ethical anchors in technological innovation. The paper critically assesses contemporary AI challenges—such as bias in algorithms, surveillance, data exploitation, and automation’s impact on labor—from an Islamic ethical standpoint. It argues that Islamic teachings can offer not only prohibitive boundaries but also constructive guidance for creating AI systems that uphold human dignity, equity, and social justice. Furthermore, it proposes a framework for Islamic ethical governance in AI, involving scholars, technologists, and policymakers in collaborative deliberation. By incorporating Islamic moral thought into AI ethics, the research aims to promote a more inclusive, culturally sensitive, and ethically grounded technological future. This approach also encourages Muslim nations to proactively contribute to global AI ethics discourse while preserving their religious values and social integrity. Ultimately, the study highlights the necessity of moral accountability in innovation, aligning technological advancement with the broader ethical vision of Islam.
References
. Salin, Ahmad Saiful Azlin Puteh, Siti Khadijah Ab Manan, and Norlela Kamaluddin. "Ethical framework for directors–learning from the prophet." International Journal of Law and Management 62, no. 2 (2020): 171-191.
. Shaw, James, Frank Rudzicz, Trevor Jamieson, and Avi Goldfarb. "Artificial intelligence and the implementation challenge." Journal of medical Internet research 21, no. 7 (2019): e13659.
. Rafiq, Muhammad, and DR SYED ASAD ABBAS RIZVI. "Moral Development Strategies for University Students in the Light of Islamic Philosophy of Moral Development in the Quran and Sunnah." PhD diss., Department of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan, 2020.
. Qur’an 17:70
. Casonato, Carlo. "AI and constitutionalism: the challenges ahead." Reflections on Artificial Intelligence for Humanity (2021): 127-149.
. Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. "" MAQ??ID AL-SHAR?'AH": THE OBJECTIVES OF ISLAMIC LAW." Islamic studies 38, no. 2 (1999): 193-208.
. Elmahjub, Ezieddin. "Artificial intelligence (AI) in Islamic ethics: Towards pluralist ethical benchmarking for AI." Philosophy & Technology 36, no. 4 (2023): 73.
. Ibid
. Qur’an 16:90
. Fontes, Catarina, Ellen Hohma, Caitlin C. Corrigan, and Christoph Lütge. "AI-powered public surveillance systems: why we (might) need them and how we want them." Technology in Society 71 (2022): 102137.
. Qur’an 49:12
. Hemmet, Abdullah. "Harmonizing Artificial Intelligence with Islamic Values-A Thoughtful Analysis of Religious, Social, and Economic Impacts of Technological Advancements." American Journal of Smart Technology and Solutions 2, no. 2 (2023): 65-76.
. Ahmad, Sajjad, Abdul Jabbar Qamar, Muhammad Asad Akram Bhatti, and Usman Bashir. "Integrating Islamic Ethics with Modern Governance: A Comprehensive Framework for Accountability Across Religious, Social, and Economic Dimensions." Al-Irfan 8, no. 15 (2023): 51-79.
. Jawaid, Syed Adnan, and Syed Ahmed. "The Transformative Economic impact of Artificial Intelligence." (2023).
. Ahmed, Habib. "Islamic Capital: Ethical Foundations Of An Equitable Economic System." Durham University Business School. Durham University Business School (2022).
. Ahmad, Sajjad, Abdul Jabbar Qamar, Muhammad Asad Akram Bhatti, and Usman Bashir. "Integrating Islamic Ethics with Modern Governance: A Comprehensive Framework for Accountability Across Religious, Social, and Economic Dimensions." Al-Irfan 8, no. 15 (2023): 51-79.
. Qur’an 16:90
. Qadir, Junaid, Amana Raquib, and Hafiz Saeed Ahmed. "Spiritual Excellence (I?s?n) for Professionals: A ?ad?th-Based Perspective." Handbook of Ethics of Islamic Economics and Finance (2020): 217-237.
. Havrda, Marek, and Bogdana Rakova. "Enhanced well-being assessment as basis for the practical implementation of ethical and rights-based normative principles for AI." In 2020 IEEE international conference on systems, man, and cybernetics (SMC), pp. 2754-2761. IEEE, 2020.
. Qur’an 74:38
. De Almeida, Patricia Gomes Rêgo, Carlos Denner dos Santos, and Josivania Silva Farias. "Artificial intelligence regulation: a framework for governance." Ethics and Information Technology 23, no. 3 (2021): 505-525.
. Qur’an 33:72
. Alzubaidi, Laith, Aiman Al-Sabaawi, Jinshuai Bai, Ammar Dukhan, Ahmed H. Alkenani, Ahmed Al-Asadi, Haider A. Alwzwazy et al. "Towards Risk?Free Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: Significance and Requirements." International Journal of Intelligent Systems 2023, no. 1 (2023): 4459198.
. Zhanbayev, Rinat A., Muhammad Irfan, Anna V. Shutaleva, Daniil G. Maksimov, Rimma Abdykadyrkyzy, and ?ahin Filiz. "Demoethical model of sustainable development of society: A roadmap towards digital transformation." Sustainability 15, no. 16 (2023): 12478.
, Dandotiya, Abhinandan Singh, Shashi Kant Gupta, Nidhi Dandotiya, and Mr Palash Sharma. AI IN EVERYDAY LIFE: TRANSFORMING SOCIETY. Navi International Book Publication house, 2024.
. Mohamed, Hazik. "Managing Islamic financial risks and new technological risks." In Artificial Intelligence and Islamic Finance, pp. 61-76. Routledge, 2021.
. Farayola, Michael Mayowa, Irina Tal, Regina Connolly, Takfarinas Saber, and Malika Bendechache. "Ethics and trustworthiness of AI for predicting the risk of recidivism: A systematic literature review." Information 14, no. 8 (2023): 426.
. R?zv?, Mohammed. "Investigating AI-powered tutoring systems that adapt to individual student needs, providing personalized guidance and assessments." The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences 31 (2023): 67-73.
. Karimullah, Suud Sarim. "The Implications of Islamic Law on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Muslim-Majority Countries." MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review 2, no. 2 (2023): 90-114.
. Helbing, Dirk. "Societal, economic, ethical and legal challenges of the digital revolution: from big data to deep learning, artificial intelligence, and manipulative technologies." In Towards digital enlightenment: Essays on the dark and light sides of the digital revolution, pp. 47-72. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018.
. Sona, Federica. "Accelerating the Digital Transition: European and Muslim Responses to Artificial Intelligence and ICT s." Journal of Religion in Europe 18, no. 1 (2024): 26-58.
. Bilal, Hafiz Muhammad, Rana Ahmed Raza, and Muhammad Abdussaboor. "The Position of Islamic Jurisprudence within Islamic Legal Theory: A Study of Foundational Principles." Al-Kashaf 3, no. 3 (2023): 1-8.
