Islamic Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence & Ethics

Islamic Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence & Ethics

https://islamonline.net/en/islamic-perspectives-on-artificial-intelligence/

Publish Date: 2026-07-15 22:34:00

Source Domain: islamonline.net

• Technological Renaissance and Islamic Response: The unprecedented advancements in AI and genetic engineering call for a thoughtful Islamic response rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, emphasizing ethical engagement rather than blind adoption or isolation.

• Balanced Ethical Framework: Islamic jurisprudence integrates modern innovations through the context of divine law, ensuring progress while safeguarding human dignity and the natural order, reflecting the core tenet that humans are entrusted to explore and use the universe for the betterment of creation.

• Prohibitions Against Hubristic Alterations: Islamic texts and traditions explicitly warn against altering God’s creation out of arrogance or vanity, prohibiting non-therapeutic genetic changes and the imitation of divine creativity through AI, while endorsing therapeutic uses.

• Somatic vs. Germline Genetic Editing: Somatic cell therapy is permissible under Islamic law as it treats diseases, whereas germline editing is strictly prohibited due to its potential to alter heredity and violate the preservation of lineage and equity.

• Accountability and AI: Islamic perspectives firmly maintain that machines cannot possess moral accountability or a soul, thus holding humans responsible for AI outcomes, while emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding against its potential harms.

• Human Purpose and Automation: Islam advocates for AI to enhance human capability and redirect human effort towards higher-level intellectual and creative tasks, promoting an ecosystem where technology supports rather than replaces human labor.

• Truth and Integrity: The spread of misinformation through AI necessitates robust technological and legal mechanisms to maintain truth and integrity, ensuring ethical communication and justice in the digital age.

• Ethical Future of Innovation: The Islamic approach to AI and genetic editing emphasizes a middle path that embraces innovation anchored in human dignity, justice, and spiritual purpose, steering clear of both blind optimism and fear.