Islamic Ethics and AI

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The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) raises deep ethical questions—about privacy, fairness, accountability, and human dignity. While much of the global conversation is shaped by secular ethics and Western philosophy, the Islamic intellectual tradition also provides a rich ethical framework that can guide how we design and deploy technology.

For developers, researchers, and scholars working at the intersection of faith, ethics, and technology, grounding your work in established Islamic scholarship is not just beneficial—it’s necessary. Below is a curated list of 20 academic references from Muslim scholars and journals that explore Islamic ethics in relation to science, medicine, and technology. These can serve as foundational sources when building a theologically sound and ethically rigorous thesis on AI and emerging technologies.

20 Academic References from Muslim Scholars

Al-Dawoody, A. (2011). The Islamic Law of War: Justifications and Regulations. Palgrave Macmillan.
Lays out principles of maqasid al-shari'ah, vital for framing ethical objectives in technology.

Al-Qaradawi, Y. (2001). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. Islamic Book Trust.
Classic work defining halal and haram, directly applicable to tech ethics.

Al-Munajjid, M. S. (2000). The Islamic View of the Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering. JIMA, 32(1), 13-19.
Early Islamic bioethics work—provides a model for addressing AI in health.

Ghaly, M. (2015). Muslim Bioethics: Between Law and Ethical Pluralism. IJIT, 8, 1-15.
Demonstrates the adaptability of Islamic principles to new challenges.

Gatrad, A. R., & Sheikh, A. (2001). Medical ethics and Islam: principles and practice. ADC, 84(1), 72-75.
Core Islamic principles in medicine—directly applicable to AI in healthcare.

Hathout, H. (2006). Reading the Muslim Mind. American Trust Publications.
Explores how Islamic thought approaches science, change, and progress.

Ibrahim, M. (2018). The Architecture of Islamic Ethics. Islamic Sciences, 16(2), 45-67.
A structured model of Islamic ethics for applied contexts like AI.

Kamali, M. H. (2008). Maqasid al-Shari'ah: The Objectives of Islamic Law. Islamic Texts Society.
Key reference on maqasid—preservation of life, intellect, wealth, faith, and lineage.

Khan, M. A. (2019). Islamic Perspectives on Technology and Innovation. The Muslim World, 109(3), 432-450.
Addresses innovation and ethics from an Islamic lens.

Lari, S. M. M. (2007). The Rights of Patients in Islam. JMEHM, 1(1), 1-5.
Frames patients’ rights—relevant for ethical AI in healthcare.

Mohammed, J. A. (2017). Islamic Ethics and New Biotechnologies. Zygon, 52(2), 465-485.
Applies Islamic ethics to emerging sciences, a parallel for AI.

Al-Faruqi, I. R. (1992). Al-Tawhid: Its Implications for Thought and Life. IIIT.
Shows how Tawhid can unify ethics, science, and technology.

Rahman, F. (1982). Islam & Modernity: Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition. University of Chicago Press.
Historical context for how Islam engages with modern challenges.

Sachedina, A. (2009). Islamic Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
Covers autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence in an Islamic framework.

Said, M. S., et al. (2018). The Fourth Industrial Revolution from an Islamic Perspective. IJIT, 14, 78-89.
Directly discusses Industry 4.0 and AI ethics.

Al-Sharafi, A. G., & Al-Bar, M. A. (2013). The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: An Islamic Perspective. JIMA, 45(1), 29-34.
Precedent for applying Islamic principles to complex science and tech.

Unal, A. (2006). The Quran with Annotated Interpretation in Modern English. Tughra Books.
Authoritative tafsir for citing Quranic foundations of ethics.

Wajdi, F. (2020). Digital Ethics from an Islamic Perspective. IKIM Journal, 1(1), 1-20.
Covers automation, data privacy, and AI from an Islamic lens.

Zulfiqar, M. A., & Abbas, S. Z. (2022). Navigating AI in Healthcare: An Islamic Maqasid Approach. Science and Engineering Ethics, 28(3), 25.
A contemporary and highly relevant article applying maqasid to AI.

Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA). (Various). Resolutions and Recommendations. IDB.
Collective ijtihad on modern science, tech, and medicine.

How Developers and Researchers Can Use These References

Build Foundational Ethics: Start with Kamali (2008), Al-Faruqi (1992), and Ibrahim (2018) to ground your AI framework in maqasid and Tawhid.

Focus on Healthcare AI: Draw from Sachedina (2009), Gatrad & Sheikh (2001), and Zulfiqar & Abbas (2022) to frame AI healthcare applications.

Engage with Modernity: Use Khan (2019), Said et al. (2018), and Rahman (1982) to highlight how Islamic thought evolves with technology.

Support Methodology: Ghaly (2015) and IFA rulings show Islamic law’s flexibility in addressing emerging tech.

Final Thoughts

The ethical challenges posed by AI are universal, but the responses don’t have to be limited to secular Western thought. By engaging with Islamic scholarship, we not only enrich the conversation but also ensure that technology development aligns with values of justice, dignity, and human welfare—principles deeply rooted in the maqasid al-shari’ah.

For Muslim scholars, developers, and policymakers, these 20 references provide a roadmap for creating AI systems that serve humanity while staying true to faith-based ethical frameworks.