What does Islam say about artificial intelligence?

Islam does not ban AI as a technology; it judges how it is used. AI can be a helpful tool for learning, translation, accessibility and work, but the usual Islamic principles still apply: honesty, avoiding harm, protecting people's dignity and privacy, and personal accountability. Some things, such as religious rulings and acts of worship, should not be handed over to a machine.

A tool, not a ruling

Islam generally treats new technology as permitted unless it leads to something forbidden. The Quran gives a guiding rule: "Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression" (Quran 5:2). Using AI to summarise a document, learn a language or help someone with a disability is a good use. Using it to cheat, deceive or harm is not. Scholars are still discussing newer questions, so this area is developing.

Honesty and truth

AI can produce text, voices and images that look real but are wrong or fake. Islam asks us to be careful with information:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا "Do not follow what you have no sure knowledge of. Indeed, all will be called to account for their hearing, sight, and intellect." Quran 17:36

Verify: AI tools can invent facts, hadith and references. The Quran tells us to verify news before acting on it (Quran 49:6).
Don't deceive: the Prophet ﷺ said "He who deceives is not of me" (Sahih Muslim 102). Fake photos, cloned voices and misleading content fall under this.
Don't cheat: passing off AI work as yours where it is not allowed is dishonest. See Can I use AI to write my school or work assignments as a Muslim?

You stay accountable

The Prophet ﷺ said, "All of you are guardians and responsible for your wards" (Sahih al-Bukhari 893). If you use AI, you remain responsible for the result. You cannot blame the machine for a lie, a harmful decision or a leaked secret. The same applies to companies that build AI: designers and owners are responsible for the harm their systems cause, such as bias, privacy violations or misuse.

What should not be delegated to machines

Religious rulings: AI can summarise opinions but is not a qualified scholar. Ask a trusted imam. See Can I use ChatGPT to answer my Islamic questions?
Acts of worship: your dua and your prayers should come from your own heart. See Can I use AI to write a dua for me?
Moral decisions: decisions that affect people's lives, liberty or livelihood need human judgment and responsibility.
Close relationships: a chatbot cannot replace real marriage, family and friendship.
Sacred texts: verify Quran and hadith texts from reliable sources, not from AI memory.

Using AI wisely

Use it to learn and save time, not to avoid effort that builds your character.
Protect private data, yours and other people's.
Avoid creating images or content that is immodest, mocking or deceptive. See Can I make AI images of people as a Muslim?
Make the intention to use technology for good, and review it with a qualified person if unsure.

Key points

AI is not forbidden in itself; its use is judged by Islamic principles.
Be honest, verify information and never deceive with AI.
You remain accountable for what you do with it (Sahih al-Bukhari 893).
Don't hand over rulings, worship or moral judgment to a machine.

Tip: Before you trust an AI answer on a religious topic, check the verse or hadith number yourself on a reliable source.