EN.MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Muslims may use artificial intelligence (AI) to ask questions about religious matters only if the technology serves as a supporting tool, and not a substitute for qualified scholars. Users must also exercise discernment, verify sources, and recognize its limitation in addressing Islamic issues.
The message was delivered by Mukhlis Rahmanto, a member of the Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Council for Religious Opinion and Reform, during a Pengajian Tarjih session on Wednesday (22/7), where he discussed the use of AI in accessing Islamic knowledge.
Mukhlis explained that the Qur’an itself provides guidance for those seeking religious knowledge. He cited Surah Al-Anbiya (21:7): fas’alū ahla al-dzikri in kuntum lā ta’lamūn (ask those who possess knowledge if you do not know).
According to him, the phrase ahl al-dhikr explicitly refers to people with recognized scholarly competence. Therefore, religious authority remains in the hands of scholars who possess expertise in the Qur’an, Hadith, Arabic, Islamic legal methodology (istinbat), and other branches of Islamic scholarship.
“This verse makes it clear that religious authority cannot be transferred from human beings to machines, Mukhlis said. “AI should function only as a tool that assists scholars and the wider public.”
AI Can Improve Access to Islamic Knowledge
Despite those limitations, Mukhlis emphasized that AI offers significant benefits by making Islamic scholarship more accessible. Digital Qur’an applications and online Islamic libraries containing thousands of classical texts, for example, have dramatically reduced the time required to locate relevant references and legal evidence.
He said AI can assist users in finding basic information, such as scriptural evidence for a legal ruling or summaries of scholarly opinions, as long as the underlying sources are reliable and academically credible.
As an example, Mukhlis pointed to Muhammadiyah’s Global Unified Hijri Calendar (Kalender Hijriah Global Tunggal or KHGT). The project integrates official documents, research findings, and decisions issued by the Council for Tarjih into an AI system capable of answering public questions about Islamic jurisprudence and astronomical calculations quickly and accurately.
“When the source material is valid, AI can make knowledge much easier to access,” he explained. “However, It only works with the data provided to it.”
Ethical Responsibility Remains Essential
Mukhlis cautioned that AI should always be used responsibly in religious matters. One major concern, he noted, is that AI may generate responses based on unreliable references or interpretations that contradict established Islamic principles.
He warned that an AI system could mistakenly justify practices unanimously prohibited by Islamic scholars if it relies on flawed or misleading sources. Therefore, every AI-generated answer should be verified against authentic scholarly references.
Beyond accuracy, Mukhlis also highlighted unresolved copyright issues surrounding AI. Since AI systems learn from books, academic publications, and other copyrighted works, legal experts continue to debate the boundaries of their permissible use.
He further warned against the misuse of AI to create deepfakes, arguing that fabricated images, audio, and videos could fuel slander and spread misinformation.
Fatwas Require Human Judgment
Mukhlis stressed that AI can never replace scholars in issuing religious rulings (fatwas). While AI processes information, scholars also weigh moral judgment, wisdom, and the unique circumstances of the person seeking guidance.
To illustrate this point, he cited the example of Abdullah ibn Abbas, who gave different answers regarding repentance for murder depending on the questioner’s situation. To someone who intended to commit murder, Ibn Abbas firmly discouraged the act. However, to someone who had already committed murder and sincerely sought repentance, he offered hope in Allah’s mercy.
“A fatwa is not based solely on textual evidence,” Mukhlis said. “It also considers the circumstances of the individual asking the question. This is where AI reaches its limits, because it cannot replace a scholar’s conscience and wisdom.”
He added that AI remains useful for answering straightforward, text-based questions such as how to perform ablution (wudu), prayer (salat), or identifying well-established scriptural evidence. However, more complex, case-specific issues still require human scholarly judgment.
As practical guidance, Mukhlis encouraged Muslims to distinguish between uṣūl (fundamental principles of the faith) and furūʿ (secondary matters where scholarly disagreement is acceptable). Understanding that distinction, he said, will help AI users evaluate whether a response remains within the framework of Islamic teachings or contradicts its foundational principles.
