Artificial Intelligence and the Ethics of Tafsir: Integrating Digital Technologies and Islamic Humanities in Automating Interpretative Processes
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This study examines the multidisciplinary integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), ethics, and interpretive studies in the context of Qur'anic exegesis (Tafsir).
Methodology: A systematic literature review and critical analysis mapped the intersection of AI technologies and Tafsir studies. Data were collected from Scopus and ProQuest using relevant keywords. Selected literature was thematically analyzed to identify opportunities, challenges, and ethical issues. Comparative insights from other religious traditions contextualized findings within broader humanities and digital ethics perspectives and emerging interdisciplinary scholarship across academic contexts.
Main Findings: AI techniques, particularly Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning, hold considerable potential to enhance the efficiency, scalability, and accessibility of Qur'anic exegesis by processing large corpora of Tafsir, detecting patterns, and suggesting new interpretive pathways. At the same time, the study identifies critical risks, including data and model bias, reduction of interpretive depth, and the reconfiguration of scholarly authority and interpretive legitimacy. Key ethical concerns involve transparency, accountability, and safeguards against decontextualized or misleading interpretations that may conflict with established Islamic scholarly norms.
Novelty/Originality of this study: This article proposes a cross-disciplinary framework integrating AI, Islamic studies, and ethics to conceptualize algorithmic Tafsir within digital Islamic humanities. It aligns AI’s technical capacities with Islamic ethical and hermeneutical principles, emphasizing collaborative governance among scholars. The study contributes to debates on responsible AI use and provides a structured foundation for future interdisciplinary research in Islamic digital scholarship.
References
M. Hasan, C. Ahmad, and R. Islam, “Classical insights, contemporary relevance: Understanding Tafsīr bi al-Maʾthūr in Qur’anic studies,” Stud. Quranika J. Stud. Quran, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1–24, 2025, doi: 10.21111/studiaquranika.v9i2.12989.
M. Coşkun, “Muslim Qur’ānic interpretation today: Media, genealogies, and interpretive communities,” İslam Araştırmaları Dergisi, vol. 48, pp. 291–294, 2022, doi: 10.26570/isad.1134097.
F. K. Lawal, H. Isfa, and N. A. Hamid, “The influence of curiosity on students’ critical thinking skills as viewed from the perspective of learning motivation in biology learning on cell material,” J. Acad. Biol. Biol. Educ., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 88–96, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jouabe.v2i1.1913.
I. Supena, “Epistemology of Tafsīr, Ta’wīl, and hermeneutics: Towards an integrative approach,” J. Islam. Thought Civiliz., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 121–136, 2024, doi: 10.32350/jitc.141.08.
E. Sepianti and S. Sulastri, “Investigating anecdotal text writing ability in tenth grade learners,” J. Lang. Lit. Educ. Res., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 126–132, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jolle.v2i1.1961.
T. N. Trisahid, D. Kijkosol, and C. Corrales, “Optimization of biology learning on excretory system material through contextual teaching and learning approach,” J. Acad. Biol. Biol. Educ., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 82–91, 2024, doi: 10.37251/jouabe.v1i2.1165.
A. Z. Ali, “A brief review of classical and modern tafsir trends and the role of modern tafsirs in contemporary Islamic thought,” Aust. J. Islam. Stud., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 39–52, 2018, doi: 10.55831/ajis.v3i2.87.
B. Demircigil, “The conceptualization of jurisprudential exegesis as the intersection of tafsīr and fiqh: A critical approach,” Religions, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 1–14, 2025, doi: 10.3390/rel16020254.
M. Zaini, “Methods and thoughts in Islamic theology,” Al-Lubb: J. Islam. Thought Muslim Cult., vol. 2, no. 2, p. 93, 2020, doi: 10.51900/lubb.v2i2.8595.
A. Ragab, “Asbāb al-Nuzūl (The occasions of revelation),” in The Routledge Companion to the Qur’an, London, UK: Routledge, 2021.
M. C. Nguyễn and T. N. Lê, “The impact of health education through animated videos on mothers’ attitudes in providing complementary foods,” J. Health Innov. Environ. Educ., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 113–120, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jhiee.v2i1.2325.
N. Oberauer, “Canonization in Islamic law: A case study based on Shāfiʿī literature,” Islam. Law Soc., vol. 29, no. 1–2, pp. 123–208, 2022, doi: 10.1163/15685195-bja10021.
B. H. Nugroho, A. Mustaniruddin, and A. Taufik, “Ideological contestation in the production of gender-based Qur’anic exegesis in Indonesia,” J. Stud. Ilmu-Ilmu Al-Qur’an dan Hadis, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 346–369, 2024, doi: 10.14421/qh.v25i2.5388.
M. R. Mohd Amin, I. Ismail, and V. M. Sivakumaran, “Revolutionizing education with artificial intelligence: Challenges and implications for open and distance learning,” Soc. Sci. Humanit. Open, vol. 11, p. 101308, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101308.
N. D. Mustapha, N. N. Mustapha, and A. S. Mahmud, “Artificial intelligence in strengthening audit quality and governance in SMEs,” Archit. Image Stud., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 120–128, 2025, doi: 10.62754/ais.v6i3.191.
N. N. Le and M. Z. Aye, “The effect of integrating green sustainable science and technology into STEM learning on students’ environmental literacy,” Integr. Sci. Educ. J., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 232–239, 2025, doi: 10.37251/isej.v6i3.2116.
R. M. Geraci, “Apocalyptic AI: Religion and the promise of artificial intelligence,” J. Am. Acad. Relig., vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 138–166, 2008, doi: 10.1093/jaarel/lfm101.
S. C. Fanni, M. Febi, G. Aghakhanyan, and E. Neri, “Natural language processing,” in Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, M. E. Klontzas, S. C. Fanni, and E. Neri, Eds., Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2023, pp. 87–99, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-25928-9_5.
P. Roy, B. Ghose, P. K. Singh, P. K. Tyagi, and A. Vasudevan, “Artificial intelligence and finance: A bibliometric review on trends, influences, and research directions,” F1000Research, 2025, doi: 10.12688/f1000research.160959.1.
M. S. Alzboon et al., “The role of perceived trust in embracing artificial intelligence technologies: Insights from SMEs,” in Intelligence-Driven Circular Economy: Regeneration Towards Sustainability and Social Responsibility, A. Hannoon and A. Mahmood, Eds., Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2025, pp. 1–15, doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-74220-0_1.
F. Zaraket and J. Makhlouta, “Arabic cross-document NLP for the Hadith and biography literature,” 2012.
J. Robertson, C. Stinson, and T. Hu, “A bio-inspired framework for machine bias interpretation,” 2022, doi: 10.1145/3514094.3534126.
S. I. Mohammad, N. Yogeesh, N. Raja, P. William, M. S. Ramesha, and A. Vasudevan, “Integrating AI and fuzzy systems to enhance education equity,” Appl. Math. Inf. Sci., vol. 422, no. 2, pp. 403–422, 2025.
M. T. Sihotang, I. Jaya, A. Hizriadi, and S. M. Hardi, “Answering Islamic questions with a chatbot using fuzzy string-matching algorithm,” in Proc. Int. Conf. on Science and Technology, 2020, doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1566/1/012007.
M. Mauluddin, “Kontribusi artificial intelligence (AI) pada studi Al-Qur’an di era digital: Peluang dan tantangan,” Madinah J. Stud. Islam, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 99–113, 2024, doi: 10.58518/madinah.v11i1.2518.
S. Begum, “Artificial intelligence in multicultural Islamic education: Opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations,” Solo Univ. J. Islam. Educ. Multicult., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 19–26, 2024.
N. Goltz, J. Zeleznikow, and T. Dowdeswell, “From the tree of knowledge to the golem of Prague: The ethics of artificial intelligence in Jewish thought,” Oxford J. Law Relig., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 132–156, 2020, doi: 10.1093/ojlr/rwaa015.
M. B.-A. Siegal and Y. Yovel, “Network analysis reveals insights into the interconnections of Judaism and Christianity in the first centuries CE,” Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun., vol. 10, no. 1, p. 191, 2023, doi: 10.1057/s41599-023-01678-y.
A. G. Elrod, “Nothing new under the sun? The study of biblical Hebrew in the era of generative pre-trained AI,” HIPHIL Novum, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 1–32, 2023, doi: 10.7146/hn.v8i2.143114.
A. Hendriyanto, D. Suryadi, S. Sahara, D. Fardian, I. Pauji, and L. H. Muhaimin, “From tools to thought partners: Optimizing technology as extended cognition for innovative didactic design,” AIP Conf. Proc., vol. 3220, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2024, doi: 10.1063/5.0234677.
C. A. Teddy Lesmana, “Increasing the role of technology in the functions of law as a tool of social engineering,” Lit. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Humanit., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 33–40, 2022, doi: 10.52005/literate.v1i1.4.
A. Z. Ali, “Brief review of classical and modern tafsir trends and role of modern tafsirs in contemporary Islamic thought,” Aust. J. Islam. Stud., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 39–52, 2018, doi: 10.55831/ajis.v3i2.87.
M. F. Niam, “Does artificial intelligence go beyond the limits of religious authority? An ethical review on IslamGPT,” Al-‘Adalah J. Islam. Stud., vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 71–84, 2024, doi: 10.35719/aladalah.v27i1.477.
R. van Dinter, B. Tekinerdogan, and C. Catal, “Automation of systematic literature reviews: A systematic literature review,” Inf. Softw. Technol., vol. 136, pp. 1–18, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.infsof.2021.106589.
C. A. Ul Hassan, M. S. Khan, and M. A. Shah, “Comparison of machine learning algorithms in data classification,” in Proc. Int. Conf. on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, 2018, doi: 10.23919/IConAC.2018.8748995.
S. Russell, P. Norvig, F. Popineau, L. Miclet, and C. Cadet, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson, 2021.
W. Puspitasari, “The influence of health education through social media on students’ knowledge about anemia,” J. Health Innov. Environ. Educ., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 14–19, 2024, doi: 10.37251/jhiee.v1i1.1034.
D. I. Abdul Latiff, A. S. S. Salleh, W. A. A. Megat Zambri, and S. Kamal, “Students’ self-efficacy and enjoyment in gamification-based learning,” Int. J. Acad. Res. Bus. Soc. Sci., vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 998–1008, 2024, doi: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i6/21735.
N. Abror, R. Novita, M. Mustakim, and M. Afdal, “Sentiment analysis on the impact of artificial intelligence,” Artif. Intell. Rev., vol. 55, no. 7, pp. 5731–5780, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10462-022-10144-1.
S. G. Alsulami, A. A. Albeladi, S. A. Kouchay, A. A. Altamimi, M. Y. Afifi, and R. T. M. Al-Qahtani, “Integration of TAM and ISSM in evaluating AI-based learning systems,” Pakistan J. Life Soc. Sci., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 6356–6366, 2024, doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00479.
S. G. Alsulami, A. A. Albeladi, S. A. Kouchay, A. A. Altamimi, M. Y. Afifi, and R. T. M. Al-Qahtani, “Evaluating AI-based educational interventions and student performance,” Pakistan J. Life Soc. Sci., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 7487–7500, 2024, doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00564.
A. Aldkheel and L. Zhou, “Depression detection on social media: A comprehensive review,” J. Healthc. Inform. Res., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 88–120, 2024, doi: 10.1007/s41666-023-00152-3.
Y. Çelik, “Answering divine love: Human distinctiveness in the light of Islam and artificial superintelligence,” Sophia, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 1–12, 2023.
S. N. Saindah, “The power of visual learning: Audio-visual health education to combat stunting,” J. Health Innov. Environ. Educ., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 68–75, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jhiee.v2i1.2008.
I. Latifah and A. N. Sanafiri, “Muʿtazilah and the digital era: Reinterpreting Islamic tafsir in the age of artificial intelligence,” Spectr. J. Islam. Stud., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1–12, 2025, doi: 10.61987/sis.v1i1.000.
Q. Chen, X. Zhu, Z.-H. Ling, D. Inkpen, and S. Wei, “Neural natural language inference models enhanced with external knowledge,” in Proc. 56th Annu. Meet. Assoc. Comput. Linguist., 2018, doi: 10.18653/v1/P18-1224.
H. Habiburrohman, E. Supartini, and P. O. Onchera, “The effect of peer assessment through Twitter on students’ writing ability,” J. Lang. Lit. Educ. Res., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 18–24, 2024, doi: 10.37251/jolle.v1i1.997.
T. T. T. Linh, T. T. M. Huong, and N. Thammachot, “Sustainable nutrient management for NFT hydroponic lettuce: Integrating kipahit (Tithonia diversifolia) liquid organic fertilizer with AB-mix,” Integr. Sci. Educ. J., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 240–248, 2025, doi: 10.37251/isej.v6i3.2118.
J. Fan, L. Fang, J. Wu, Y. Guo, and Q. Dai, “From brain science to artificial intelligence,” Engineering, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 248–252, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.eng.2019.11.012.
S. Worachananant, S. Shamshiri, and G. R. Semilla, “Approach management in marine protected areas: A case study of Surin Marine National Park, Thailand,” Multidiscip. J. Tour. Hosp. Sport Phys. Educ., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 11–18, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jthpe.v2i1.1655.
H. R. Hagad and H. Riah, “Augmented reality-based interactive learning media: Enhancing understanding of chemical bonding concepts,” J. Chem. Learn. Innov., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 52–59, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jocli.v2i1.1919.
U. Reimer, D. Bork, P. Fettke, and M. Tropmann-Frick, “Preface of the First Workshop Models in AI,” 2020.
P. Gupta, “Reverse engineering of human brain for the field of artificial intelligence,” Int. J. Eng. Res., vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 252–257, 2020, doi: 10.17577/ijertv9is050169.
M. M. Jackson, A. Abdallah, and O. Alfaki, “Advancing sustainable development goal 6: Innovations, challenges, and pathways for clean water and sanitation,” Integr. Sci. Educ. J., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 224–231, 2025, doi: 10.37251/isej.v6i3.2114.
M. Heidegger, The Question Concerning Technology. New York: Harper & Row, 1977.
J. Yosinski, J. Clune, Y. Bengio, and H. Lipson, “How transferable are features in deep neural networks?” arXiv preprint arXiv:1411.1792, 2014.
J. Devlin, M.-W. Chang, K. Lee, and K. Toutanova, “BERT: Pre-training of deep bidirectional transformers for language understanding,” in Proceedings of NAACL-HLT, 2019.
A. Vaswani et al., “Attention Is All You Need,” arXiv preprint arXiv:1706.03762, 2017.
W. Antoun, F. Baly, and H. Hajj, AraBERT: Transformer-Based Model for Arabic Language Understanding, 2020.
F. Inoue, S. Iacovo, Z. El-Mekki, S.-W. Kim, H. Struyf, and E. Beyne, “Area-selective electroless deposition of Cu for hybrid bonding,” IEEE Electron Device Lett., vol. 42, pp. 1826–1829, 2021, doi: 10.1109/LED.2021.3124960.
S. Ruder, M. E. Peters, S. Swayamdipta, and T. Wolf, “Transfer learning in natural language processing,” in Proceedings of NAACL, 2019.
L. Brown, E. Hoover, C. Barrett, K. Esschert, and A. Garcia-Williams, “Brown et al.-2020-BMC Research Notes,” BMC Res. Notes, vol. 13, 2020, doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05398-3.
E. A. Feigenbaum and P. McCorduck, The Fifth Generation: Artificial Intelligence and Japan’s Computer Challenge to the World. Addison-Wesley, 1983.
P. Smolensky, “On the proper treatment of connectionism,” Cambridge University Press, 1988.
G. Marcus, The Next Decade in AI: Four Steps Towards Robust Artificial Intelligence, 2020, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2002.06177.
A. Garcez, M. Gori, L. Lamb, L. Serafini, M. Spranger, and S. Tran, Neural-Symbolic Computing: An Effective Methodology for Principled Integration of Machine Learning and Reasoning, 2019, doi: 10.48550/arXiv.1905.06088.
N. Bano and K. Hina, “Inclusion of global citizenship education and sustainable development in pre-service curriculum: A perspective study,” Int. J. Innov. Teach. Learn., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 95–112, 2021, doi: 10.35993/ijitl.v6i2.855.
B. Latour, Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
W. Bijker, T. Hughes, and T. Pinch, The Social Construction of Technical Systems: New Directions in the Sociology and History of Technology. MIT Press, 2012.
P.-P. Verbeek, “Toward a theory of technological mediation,” Technoscience Postphenomenology, 2015.
R. Yusup, “Analyzing the role of information technology in enhancing teachers’ attitudes towards e-learning: A case study in Indonesian higher education,” Lit. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Humanit., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 41–51, 2023, doi: 10.52005/rrkq1797.
J. A. H. M., “Critical hermeneutics and higher education: A perspective on texts, meaning and institutional culture,” South Afr. J. Philos., vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 297–310, 2014, doi: 10.1080/02580136.2014.948327.
A. Wahyuni, N. A. Nasir, and M. Nurlita, “Epistemology of digital knowledge and axiology of technological literacy in elementary education toward an innovation ecosystem,” Lit. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Humanit., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 194–210, 2024.
A. Nurjanah, D. Susilawati, J. M. Yusup, and A. Hendriyanto, “Use of Powtoon as a technology-based creative learning medium: A systematic literature review,” 2025, doi: 10.3390/engproc2025107054.
H. Latifi, “Challenges of using artificial intelligence in the process of Shi‘i ijtihad,” Religions, vol. 15, no. 5, pp. 1–8, 2024, doi: 10.3390/rel15050541.
R. H. Abror, R. Adawiah, and N. Sofia, “AI threat and digital disruption: Examining Indonesian ulama in the context of digital culture,” J. Study Relig. Ideol., vol. 23, no. 67, pp. 59–79, 2024.
A. H. Tamuri, M. Faiz, M. Yaakob, N. Y. Khamis, P. A. Abdullah, and A. Nawi, “A preliminary survey of Muslim experts’ views on artificial intelligence,” Islamiyyat, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 3–16, 2021, doi: 10.17576/islamiyyat-2021-4302-01.
S. G. Alsulami, A. A. Albeladi, S. A. Kouchay, A. A. Altammam, M. Y. Afifi, and R. T. M. Al-Qahtani, “Integration of TAM and ISSM into student satisfaction with AI learning intervention: Empirical evidence from Islamic studies,” Pakistan J. Life Soc. Sci., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 6356–6366, 2024, doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00479.
M. A. Abdulrahman, “The future of hadith studies in the digital age: Opportunities and challenges,” J. Ecohumanism, vol. 3, no. 8, pp. 2792–2800, 2024, doi: 10.62754/joe.v3i8.4927.
D. I. A. Putra and M. Yusuf, “Proposing machine learning of tafsir al-Qur’an: In search of objectivity with semantic analysis and natural language processing,” IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., vol. 1098, no. 2, p. 022101, 2021, doi: 10.1088/1757-899x/1098/2/022101.
L. H. Muhaimin, D. Dasari, A. Hendriyanto, R. Andriatna, and S. Sahara, “Can augmented reality enhance students’ mathematical literacy? A study on technological development for learning practice,” Int. J. Math. Educ. Sci. Technol., pp. 1–34, 2025, doi: 10.1080/0020739X.2025.2502398.
D. Dasari, A. Hendriyanto, S. Sahara, L. H. Muhaimin, C. Chao, and L. Fitriana, “ChatGPT in the didactical tetrahedron: Does it make an exception? A case study in mathematics teaching and learning,” Front. Educ., vol. 8, p. 1295413, 2024, doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1295413.
N. N. Ndatyapo, Z. Abdulkarimli, Y. Aihua, and R. Basa, “Forensic linguistic analysis of defamation in everyday life,” J. Lang. Lit. Educ. Res., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 102–110, 2024, doi: 10.37251/jolle.v1i2.1382.
S. G. Alsulami et al., “Evaluating AI educational interventions: Impact on student satisfaction and performance in higher education Islamic studies,” Pakistan J. Life Soc. Sci., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 7487–7500, 2024, doi: 10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00564.
S. Chhorn, C. Chhe, and M. Serey, “Effectiveness of phosphorus and nitrogen removal in the water treatment process at Khmer Beverages, Phnom Penh,” J. Chem. Learn. Innov., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 128–136, 2025, doi: 10.37251/jocli.v2i2.2249.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Umar, Abdul Haqqi, Faisal Rojihisawal, Muhammad Dzul Fitrah AR, Deshinta A Dewi, Abdulkareem Adnan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and acknowledge that the Journal of Educational Technology and Learning Creativity is the first publisher licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and greater citation of published work.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
