AI in the Ummah: An Islamic Ethical Framework for Artificial Intelligence Based on Maqasid al-Sharia

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have prompted growing ethical debates within Muslim societies, particularly regarding how emerging technologies align with Islamic moral principles. Contemporary discussions reveal tensions between the promise of AI-driven innovation and concerns over autonomy, surveillance, bias, and the potential erosion of human agency. These issues highlight the need for a coherent Islamic ethical framework that can guide the responsible development and deployment of AI systems in ways that uphold justice, welfare, and human dignity. Maqasid al-Sharia offers a holistic foundation for articulating such a framework, as it emphasizes the preservation of faith, life, intellect, lineage, and wealth within broader principles of public good and harm prevention.

This study aims to formulate an Islamic ethical framework for artificial intelligence grounded in Maqasid al-Sharia. The research seeks to identify how core maqasid principles can be operationalized to address modern AI dilemmas, particularly in areas such as data governance, algorithmic fairness, digital rights, and automated decision-making in Muslim contexts.

A qualitative research design was employed using document analysis of classical Islamic texts, contemporary fatwa councils, AI policy documents, and scholarly discussions in Islamic ethics and technology studies. The analysis synthesized normative principles with practical ethical challenges posed by AI.

Findings demonstrate that Maqasid al-Sharia provides a robust ethical foundation for evaluating AI, particularly through the principles of maslahah, justice, transparency, and accountability. The study concludes that integrating maqasid-based ethics into AI governance can foster technology that safeguards human welfare while aligning with Islamic moral commitments.