How to Deal with Artificial Intelligence
By Manal Mohamed Abuelazaem
Introduction:
Our modern age has witnessed tremendous technological advancement, one of its most prominent manifestations being the emergence of artificial intelligence, which has become one of the most widely used and prevalent tools among people. This is due to the significant benefits it offers across various fields; it assists researchers and students, supports professionals such as engineers, doctors, and employees, and serves as a fast and accurate means of accessing information, as well as organizing and improving its presentation.
With its widespread use among Muslims, there is a clear need to examine how to التعامل with it from a practical Islamic perspective. Although artificial intelligence offers many benefits, it is not without aspects that require careful consideration and caution—especially in the field of Islamic sciences, where errors are not like others.
The Prophet ﷺ warned against attributing false statements to him, saying:
“Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him take his seat in the Fire.” [1]
And Allah تعالى says:
“And do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. He only commands you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.” [2]
First: Mixing of Information and the Possibility of Error
Artificial intelligence—like any program—is not free from error, even if correct information is غالب. It provides a large amount of information quickly, but it may mix details or present them without sufficient accuracy, especially in complex matters.
Therefore, it should not be relied upon completely without human review and verification, particularly in religious texts such as the Qur’an and Hadith, and in fatwas and rulings. One must return to original sources and verify proper attribution.
A student of knowledge should not treat it as a primary source, but rather as a supportive tool for gathering and organizing information, then verifying it independently.
Second: Wasting Time
One of the major downsides of artificial intelligence is the amount of time many people waste using it. Due to its engaging and easy nature, a person may spend long hours on it without real benefit.
Whether the cause is the tool itself or misuse by the user, the result is the same: the loss of valuable time that could have been invested in more beneficial pursuits.
Third: Its Impact on Education
Recently, a noticeable negative effect has appeared among some students, where their level of understanding has declined, and their reliance on technological tools to complete assignments has increased.
This can weaken essential skills such as writing, thinking, and analysis, and may contribute to cheating and achieving grades without genuine learning.
Thus, it is necessary to regulate its use in education and to develop assessment methods that ensure fairness and encourage true learning.
Fourth: Mental Laziness and Distraction
Excessive use of artificial intelligence may lead to mental dependency, where a person becomes accustomed to asking it about everything, thereby weakening their thinking and effort.
Over time, this may reduce focus and analytical ability, leading to less creativity and more distraction, which negatively affects intellectual and academic growth.
Fifth: Plagiarism and Violation of Rights
Artificial intelligence has opened the door to what can be described as academic plagiarism, where users take and publish information without proper citation.
Although these systems are built on content created by scholars and researchers, many users fail to credit the original authors—either out of carelessness or lack of integrity.
This is an injustice to their intellectual rights and contradicts the principles of academic honesty, especially in religious and scholarly fields.
Sixth: Practical Guidelines for Use
Despite these concerns, artificial intelligence remains a beneficial tool, and abandoning it entirely is not wise, given its role in advancing knowledge and technology.
However, it must be used responsibly, including:
Treating it as a supporting tool, not a primary source of knowledge
Reviewing and verifying information before sharing
Returning to original sources for religious texts
Committing to proper citation and attribution
Managing time and avoiding excessive use
Maintaining and developing independent thinking
Educational institutions should also establish clear guidelines and improve assessment systems to prevent misuse and ensure fair evaluation.
Conclusion:
Artificial intelligence is one of the tools of our time; it carries great benefit, but it may also cause harm if misused.
The wise person is one who uses it properly, making it a servant rather than a substitute for their mind, benefiting from it to increase knowledge without abandoning thinking, and adhering to honesty and integrity.
And Allah knows best.
[1] Sahih al-Bukhari 1291
[2] Al-Baqarah 168–169
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