Islamic Ethical Perspectives on AI and Digital Transformation in the 21st Century

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century has spurred intense ethical debates worldwide, yet the prevailing discourse remains an ethics monoculture dominated by Western secular frameworks. This paper addresses that imbalance by proposing a novel Islamic AI ethics framework and providing a systematic mapping of Islamic principles to AI governance challenges. We demonstrate that Islamic ethics not only reinforces global principles like fairness and accountability but also introduces a critical dimension of spiritual accountability (amānah, the concept of divine trust) often absent from secular models. A qualitative, comparative methodology is applied: we review both mainstream AI ethics and Islamic ethical thought, then analyze four Muslim-majority country case studies (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Pakistan). Findings: Islamic ethical precepts show broad convergence with global AI ethics – for example, Islam’s emphasis on justice aligns with fairness in algorithms, and the Islamic right to privacy complements data protection norms. More strikingly, Islamic ethics frames responsible AI as a moral duty and form of worship, embedding accountability before God as a motivator for ethical AI. The case studies illustrate how these nations integrate ethical AI guidelines with cultural and religious values – from the UAE’s voluntary AI Ethics Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Shariah-referenced data laws, Malaysia’s new AI Office (NAIO) balancing multicultural norms, and Pakistan’s National AI Policy aspiring to “ethical, inclusive” AI. The discussion highlights the potential of Islamic ethics to enrich the pluralistic dialogue on AI governance, ensuring technological innovation proceeds with moral responsibility, cultural inclusivity, and robust oversight (to prevent mere “ethics-washing”). We conclude with recommendations for policymakers – an Islamic AI governance framework – including the drafting of an Islamic AI Ethics Charter and the institutionalization of ethics oversight, suggesting that a cross-cultural approach to AI governance can promote globally beneficial, human-centric innovation while fulfilling the Islamic principle of stewardship (khilāfah).