Egypt’s leading Islamic authority, Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah, has issued a formal religious decree (fatwa ) prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence – including tools like ChatGPT – for interpreting the Quran. The ruling, published last month, reflects deep concerns about accuracy, theological authority, and the potential for misrepresentation.
Why This Matters
This decision isn’t just about technology; it’s about who controls religious interpretation. In Islam, tafsir (Quranic exegesis) is a highly specialized field requiring deep knowledge of Arabic, Islamic law, and historical context. The fatwa asserts that AI lacks the necessary understanding to provide reliable interpretations, raising the risk of inaccurate or misleading guidance.
The move highlights a broader tension: while many Islamic institutions are adopting digital tools for outreach, they’re drawing a firm line at AI-driven religious authority. This is partly because AI models often lack the verification mechanisms and scholarly oversight that traditional tafsir relies on.
Key Points of the Ruling
The fatwa explicitly states that relying solely on AI-generated interpretations is impermissible. Dar al-Ifta’s concerns are multi-faceted:
- Lack of Comprehension: AI models don’t truly understand the Quran; they process text statistically, potentially generating errors.
- Methodological Flaws: AI lacks the established scholarly methodologies for verifying interpretations.
- Unverified Sources: AI pulls from countless sources, some of which may be inaccurate or unqualified.
- Preserving Authenticity: The ban seeks to protect the Quran from conjecture and misattribution.
Established in 1895, Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah is Egypt’s premier Islamic legal research institute, and its rulings carry significant weight. The decree emphasizes that Muslims should consult established tafsir works, qualified scholars, and credible religious institutions instead of AI systems.
Digital Outreach vs. AI Authority
Despite this ban, Dar al-Ifta itself has embraced digital communication. In 2022, the institution launched FatwaPro, a mobile app that handles thousands of religious inquiries worldwide, particularly in English and French. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has deployed AI-powered robots like the Manara Robot at Mecca to answer religious questions in multiple languages.
The difference is clear: these tools facilitate access to human scholars, rather than replacing them. The fatwa doesn’t reject technology wholesale; it rejects AI as an independent source of religious interpretation.
The ruling reinforces the idea that religious authority must remain rooted in human scholarship, not automated systems.
This decision will likely influence Islamic institutions globally, setting a precedent for how to navigate the intersection of AI and faith. While digital outreach is welcome, the core of religious interpretation will remain in the hands of qualified experts.
