Recently, a fatwa was issued, labeling the use of artificial intelligence for the interpretation of the Quran as « heresy. » This stance has sparked intense debate surrounding the applications of AI in religious and spiritual contexts. The protection of sacred texts and the integrity of their interpretation remain central to this discussion, raising questions about how these technologies should be regulated to respect established beliefs and traditions. Recently, a fatwa labeled the use of artificial intelligence for the interpretation of the Quran as « heresy. » This event raises questions about the limits of applying modern technologies in the religious sphere. The debate centers on the ability of artificial intelligence systems to understand and interpret complex religious texts. This article explores the implications of this fatwa, the arguments on both sides of the debate, and the ethical and theological questions raised by this new intersection of technology and religion. A recent religious ruling, in the form of a fatwa, has officially declared that interpreting the Quran using artificial intelligence is a form of « heresy. » This fatwa comes from one of the leading religious authorities in the Muslim world, thus setting a significant precedent in the interaction between religion and advanced technology. The main justification put forward is that artificial intelligence, while powerful and capable of processing enormous amounts of data, lacks the spiritual and contextual understanding necessary to correctly interpret sacred texts. The Challenges of Interpretation by Artificial IntelligenceThe use of artificial intelligence for interpreting religious texts is motivated by its ability to quickly analyze large documents and extract relevant information. However, one of the major challenges lies in its inability to grasp the cultural and theological subtleties that a human scholar, with proper training, would be able to understand. This limitation is central to the rejection of its use for interpreting the Quran. The algorithmic neutrality often touted by developers of these technologies cannot replace the richness of human interpretations based on a long tradition of theological reflection.
Arguments in favor of using artificial intelligence: Despite the fatwa, some proponents of the technology argue that artificial intelligence could provide new perspectives by offering data analyses that human interpreters might overlook. They assert that AI could be a complementary tool, used to enrich rather than replace human work. Furthermore, artificial intelligence can help democratize access to religious knowledge by making it more accessible to those who lack the time or resources for in-depth study. Ethical and Theological ImplicationsThe fatwa’s declaration raises ethical and theological questions about spiritual authority and the role of technology in religious practice. As technology continues to advance rapidly, the balance between its advantages and traditions must be carefully considered. This underscores the importance of developing clear guidelines for integrating technology into matters of faith and maintaining the integrity of traditional interpretations.
