Artificial intelligence is one of the most important and latest weapons used by most countries around the world. Some have mastered its use and benefited from its advantages, while others have misused it, falling into its traps, drinking its poison, losing their religion, and being led astray by deceptive slogans and the false allure of AI tools. They quickly became victims of these tools instead of harnessing them for the service of their society, religion, and country. According to the "AI Index Report 2024," the impact of artificial intelligence on societies is increasing at an unprecedented rate, with several institutions predicting that this sector will contribute approximately $320 billion to the GDP of Middle Eastern countries by 2030.

Artificial intelligence is a technology that enables computers to analyze data and interact with people in a way that mimics human intelligence, making it an effective tool for spreading knowledge and learning. It is well known that Islam always encourages scientific research, technological advancement, and their use for the public good, as long as they do not contradict Islamic values and principles. Islam has elevated the status of knowledge and scholars, as Allah says in His Book: "Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is acquainted with what you do." (Al-Mujadila: 11)

The Prophet ﷺ also urged us to seek knowledge and teach it to others, as long as it is beneficial. He said: "God, His angels, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, even the ant in its hole and even the fish invoke blessings on him who teaches men what is good."

Based on this, artificial intelligence, with its various tools, has become an innovative means to contribute to introducing Islam, its religious and moral values, by providing accurate information, offering religious rulings and fatwas, and translating Islamic texts in a simplified, easy, and quick manner. This has led to the emergence of the term "digital religiosity." Despite the importance of this concept, questions remain about the accuracy of AI tools in presenting Islamic content and the challenges that may arise when using them to serve religion. This, in turn, necessitates the involvement of religious scholars and specialists to oversee the content being presented.

From the above, it is clear that studying the relationship between artificial intelligence and Islam, and the resulting concept of digital religiosity, is a highly significant topic worthy of research and discussion. This would help maximize the benefits of these tools and harness them for the service of Islam, the dissemination of Islamic teachings, and the preservation of religious and moral guidelines, which we will delve into further in the following sections, Allah willing.

The Concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that aims to create systems capable of simulating human intelligence and performing related tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, decision-making, reasoning, and interacting with the environment. AI relies on a variety of technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), deep learning, and computer vision.

AI comes in different types:

• Narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks such as translation, image recognition, and voice assistants.
• General AI, which has cognitive abilities similar to humans and can learn and adapt across different fields.
• Super AI, which surpasses human intelligence.

Given its importance, the International Monetary Fund reports that AI could impact around 40% of global jobs, replacing some and complementing others.

The Concept of "Digital Religiosity"

Digital religiosity is a modern concept that refers to the use of digital technology (the internet, smart applications, social media) to serve religion, enhance religiosity, and spread Islamic values. With over 2.04 billion Muslims, making up more than 25% of the world's population, digital religiosity includes religious activities carried out through digital means, such as:

• Access to religious content: Listening to the Quran, Islamic lectures, articles, and fatwas online.
• Religious interaction via social media: Sharing Quranic verses, hadiths, and engaging with scholars through digital platforms.
• Islamic applications: Apps for prayer times, digital Qurans, AI-based religious Q&A programs, and smart fatwa services.
• Electronic worship activities: Attending remote learning sessions, participating in religious awareness campaigns, and donating to charities through digital platforms.

It becomes clear that the concept of religious commitment is of great importance, as it facilitates access to religious knowledge for anyone, at any time, and in any place. It bridges the gap between religious scholars and the public through modern digital communication tools, helping to spread the teachings of Islam in innovative and engaging ways for different generations. Additionally, it provides numerous reliable sources for fatwas and Islamic information that both Muslims—and others—need across the world.

The Uses of AI in Introducing Islam

Artificial intelligence possesses numerous capabilities that make it a powerful tool for introducing Islam and spreading its teachings, values, and ethics in innovative and effective ways. Some of the key applications in which AI can contribute to promoting Islam include:

• Islamic Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots can answer questions from non-Muslims about Islam in accurate and innovative ways. They can also provide reliable information about Islamic beliefs, the Prophet’s biography, and acts of worship.
• Islamic Mobile Applications: AI-driven Qur’an apps offer various recitations, explanations of verses, and analytical insights. Additionally, apps providing daily supplications and reminders tailored to users’ needs help Muslims in their daily religious practices.
• Instant Translation of Islamic Texts: AI translation tools can improve the translation of Qur’anic verses and their interpretations into multiple languages. This significantly facilitates non-Arabic speakers’ understanding of Islam, its pillars, traditions, and laws.
• Islamic E-learning Platforms: Platforms such as Udemy and Coursera have started offering AI-enhanced courses on Islam. Additionally, Islamic educational content can be customized based on each learner’s level of knowledge and understanding.
• Interactive Videos and Voice Assistants: AI tools can help create interactive videos that explain Islamic concepts in simplified ways. Moreover, Islamic voice assistants—such as an "Islamic Alexa" or "Google Assistant for Islam"—can provide answers to jurisprudential questions and guide users to reliable sources for acquiring religious knowledge.
• Combating Misinformation About Islam: AI tools can analyze online content related to Islam, assess its accuracy, and correct misconceptions through reliable platforms. Additionally, AI can monitor social media, provide accurate responses, and share scholarly rebuttals to misconceptions or false claims about Islam.

Artificial Intelligence and Presenting Islamic Content

Despite the significance of AI tools in presenting Islamic content, this presentation is not always accurate. For AI to successfully and precisely present Islamic content, several factors must be considered:

• Relying on Authentic Sources: AI models should be trained on verified Islamic sources, such as the Quran, Sunnah, and reputable jurisprudential books. When these authentic sources are used, the accuracy of Islamic content significantly improves.
• Human and Scholarly Supervision: Scholars must be involved in reviewing AI-generated content to prevent inaccuracies, misinterpretations, or errors.
• Utilizing Advanced Technologies: Advanced AI models that rely on Natural Language Processing (NLP) can better understand and analyze Islamic texts with high accuracy.
• Continuous Updates: AI algorithms must be consistently improved and corrected to ensure the reliability and integrity of the presented content.

Challenges Affecting AI’s Accuracy in Presenting Islamic Content

Despite AI’s great role in presenting Islamic content, several challenges may impact its accuracy, including:

• Algorithmic Bias: AI can reflect biases from its developers, especially if they hold anti-Islamic views, leading to distorted interpretations of Islamic texts.
• Difficulty in Understanding Deep Religious Contexts: Many Islamic concepts require a precise understanding of their context and jurisprudential reasoning, which may be challenging for AI without human intervention.
• Multiplicity of Interpretations and Jurisprudential Schools: The diversity of Islamic jurisprudence can create challenges in presenting unified content that accommodates all schools of thought.
• Misuse of AI: AI can be exploited to spread misinformation or distort Islamic texts, particularly if the content is not reviewed by scholars and experts.

To overcome these challenges and make use of AI tools in spreading Islam and accurately presenting Islamic content with credibility, it is essential to develop AI systems under the supervision of scholars and specialists to ensure the correctness of the provided information and interpretations. Additionally, reliable Islamic databases can be established to serve as a guide or training source for AI tools, alongside the development of specialized models capable of correctly understanding religious contexts.

AI Applications in Spreading Islam and Islamic Knowledge

Many Islamic religious institutions have already begun utilizing artificial intelligence and its various tools to enhance their services in spreading religious knowledge in innovative and effective ways. Some of the most prominent institutions include:

• The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques (Saudi Arabia): AI-powered robots have been introduced to provide guidance to pilgrims and visitors in multiple languages, as well as to answer various jurisprudential questions based on reliable fatwas issued by scholars.
• The UAE Ministry of Awqaf: The ministry launched the AI-powered "Fatwa" robot, which responds to religious inquiries according to recognized Islamic schools of thought. Additionally, it improves the experience of pilgrims by offering instant information on rituals and how to perform them.
• Al-Azhar University and Islamic Jurisprudence Institutions: Al-Azhar in Egypt has started exploring the use of AI in analyzing jurisprudential texts, issuing fatwas, and classifying hadiths based on their authenticity and reliability.
• King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an: The complex employs AI tools to detect printing errors in published copies of the Qur’an. It also works on improving and analyzing Quranic recitation techniques through advanced and innovative applications.

This demonstrates that AI has become a powerful tool for spreading Islamic knowledge, enhancing pilgrimage services, and providing reliable fatwas, thereby improving the overall experience of religious learning. Therefore, Islamic institutions must harness AI tools to disseminate religious knowledge worldwide while also correcting misinformation spread by unreliable sources.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, artificial intelligence is a powerful and effective tool for spreading Islam and enhancing its understanding in modern and innovative ways. Through AI tools, it is possible to reach a large audience across different parts of the world, while also providing Islamic knowledge and information in an accurate and easily understandable manner. This, in turn, greatly contributes to the precise presentation of Islamic content and the correction of misconceptions about Islam.

AI enables the development of smart educational platforms, facilitates the translation of religious texts, and provides reliable answers to jurisprudential questions and inquiries, making it easier for both Muslims and non-Muslims to learn about the true teachings of Islam in a way that aligns with the digital advancements of the modern era.

Despite the importance of AI in spreading Islam, it cannot replace scholars, religious leaders, or even human reasoning entirely. Therefore, continuous scholarly supervision is necessary, and AI should be used as a supporting tool rather than the sole source of information. This ensures that the message of Islam is conveyed in a scientific, technological, and precise manner, keeping pace with the digital age and the challenges of the future.

Read Also: How Will the Upcoming Generations Utilize AI?

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