EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURABAYA — Muhammadiyah is set to launch ChatHPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant designed to help the public access religious rulings, fatwas, and explanations issued by the Tarjih and Tajdid Council.
The launch is scheduled to take place during the opening ceremony or the 33rd Tarjih National Conference at Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya on Thursday (5/11).
ChatHPT was developed to address the public’s need for religious information based on official Muhammadiyah documents. To date, Tarjih rulings, compilations of fatwas, and religious question-and-answer materials have been available in various books and digital documents. However, finding specific discussions across thousands of pages can be time-consuming and requires familiarity with the sources.
Through ChatHPT, users can ask questions in everyday language. The system then searches for relevant documents, generates answers, and provides references to the original texts. Users can examine the cited sources to understand the basis of each answer.
The development of ChatHPT reflects an effort to make the intellectual heritage of Tarjih more accessible to the public. The service is also expected to assist Muhammadiyah members, Islamic preachers, educators, and researchers seeking information on religious matters.
According to Ismail Fahmi in the November 2026 edition of Panduan Lengkap ChatHPT (Complete Guide to ChatHPT), the platform began its trial phase in August 2026. As of November 2, 2026, it had received 13,840 questions. Prayer was the most frequently discussed topic, accounting for 2,671 questions, or approximately 19.3 percent of the total.
A Knowledge Base of Thousands of Religious Documents
Behind its conversational interface, ChatHPT is powered by a knowledge base compiled from official Tarjih documents. Its database includes 1,153 manuscripts of religious rulings, fatwas, and question-and-answer materials; 2,742 concepts in Islamic jurisprudence and legal theory; and 3,855 entities covering figures, hadith narrators, books, and institutions.
Its main collections comprise 836 Tarjih Fatwa manuscripts, 255 Religious Question-and-Answer documents, and 62 documents from the Himpunan Putusan Tarjih (Compilation of Tarjih Decisions). These collections thus form part of an expanding knowledge base.
ChatHPT serves three main functions: a religious question-and-answer engine, a digital library, and a learning companion. Through its digital library function, users can also explore the Tarjih document archive without having to submit a question first.
Collaboration Behind the AI Platform
The development of ChatHPT involves the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Tarjih and Tajdid Council, Library and Information Council, and LabMu.
The Tarjih and Tajdid Council is responsible for maintaining the platform’s scholarly authority and religious substance. The Publication and Information Council supports documentation management and digital channels. LabMu, moreover, develops the technology, including the search system and AI integration.
Looking ahead, ChatHPT will focus on expanding its document collections and improving the quality of its responses. Planned developments include adding more materials from the Himpunan Putusan Tarjih, recent National Conference decisions, and worship guidelines, as well as developing features for Islamic preachers, educators, and researchers.
