مصنوعی ذہانت اور تبلیغِ دین: اسلامی علوم کی روشنی میں مواقع، چیلنجز اور مقاصدِ شریعہ پر مبنی ایک تحقیقی جائزہ

Artificial Intelligence & the Preaching of Islam: An Analytical Study of Opportunities, Challenges & Maqasid al-Shariah in the Light of Islamic Sciences

Abstract

This extensive research paper explores the multifaceted intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Islamic practice of Da'wah (inviting to Islam). In an era dominated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges for the dissemination of the Islamic message. This paper, synthesizing insights from a diverse body of contemporary Muslim scholarship, provides a comprehensive analysis of AI's potential role in transforming global Da'wah efforts.

The primary argument is that AI, if developed and implemented within a robust ethical framework derived from Maqasid al-Shari'ah (the higher objectives of Islamic Law), can serve as a powerful tool for good. The paper examines several practical applications of AI, including the development of intelligent Da'wah platforms and chatbots capable of providing instant, multilingual, and context-aware responses to queries about Islam; the use of advanced translation and content generation technologies, such as holography, to overcome linguistic and geographical barriers; and the critical role of AI in knowledge verification, particularly in the sciences of Hadith and manuscript studies, to combat misinformation and ensure authenticity.

However, the paper also critically addresses the inherent challenges. It delves into the problem of algorithmic bias, the ethical dilemmas of attributing religious authority to machines, and the indispensable need for human oversight by qualified scholars. Drawing upon the principles of Hifz al-Din (Preservation of Religion) and Hifz al-'Aql (Preservation of Intellect), it argues that AI must function as an aid to, not a replacement for, human scholars and preachers. The research concludes that while AI technologies like ChatGPT show promise as research assistants, their current limitations prevent them from undertaking independent jurisprudential reasoning (Ijtihad) or issuing fatwas. The path forward lies in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between Islamic scholars and AI experts to build systems that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply rooted in the ethical and spiritual traditions of Islam, ensuring that this powerful technology is harnessed to serve humanity and promote a true understanding of the faith.