AI in Islamic Education: Navigating Ethics and Access

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for education, particularly within the context of Islamic learning. While AI can significantly expand access to knowledge, concerns linger about who controls its direction and bears responsibility for its outcomes. Allowing AI to function as an unchecked educator risks ceding authority to systems that lack public mandate, transparency, and moral accountability.

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AI can expand access to knowledge, but the direction and responsibility of education remain with humans.

In Indonesia, the adoption of AI in education is already widespread among students. A 2026 Stanford AI Index Report, citing a 2025 Chegg Global Student Survey, found that 95% of Indonesian university students use generative AI for their studies, the highest rate among 15 surveyed nations. However, this technological surge occurs against a backdrop of persistent digital inequality. Statistics reveal stark disparities in computer access between urban and rural youth, and significantly lower usage among young people with disabilities.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has taken steps to integrate AI, notably by issuing new Islamic education textbooks that incorporate AI-driven features. These systems are designed to provide answers based on validated official materials. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar has urged educators not to let religious education lag behind evolving learning methods. This initiative is commendable for embracing technology, but it underscores the critical need for robust governance.

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If the state allows artificial intelligence to become a teacher without rules, we are handing over part of the educational authority to a system not chosen by the public, not fully transparent, and not morally accountable.

As AI penetrates religious education, accountability standards must be elevated. AI systems can generate convincing responses without bearing consequences for errors. They process information rapidly but lack understanding of social context, diverse viewpoints, ethical implications, or moral responsibility towards the recipients of their knowledge. This is where 'adab', a concept encompassing good manners, ethics, and proper conduct, must be central. True education, as defined by scholars like Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, involves instilling 'adab'. In the age of AI, this translates to governance principles: ensuring traceable sources, maintaining human control over critical decisions, protecting student data, auditing for bias, and establishing clear lines of responsibility for AI developers.

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Don't let religious education lag behind their learning methods.