AI can boost Islamic education if used ethically – Scholar

A renowned Islamic scholar, Dr Muhammad Salah, has urged Muslims to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to expand Islamic education and Da’wah, while stressing that its use must be guided by authentic Islamic knowledge and ethical standards. Speaking on Sunday at the 20th anniversary of the Crystal Muslim Organisation (CMO) in Abuja, Salah said AI offers […]

A renowned Islamic scholar, Dr Muhammad Salah, has urged Muslims to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to expand Islamic education and Da’wah, while stressing that its use must be guided by authentic Islamic knowledge and ethical standards.

Speaking on Sunday at the 20th anniversary of the Crystal Muslim Organisation (CMO) in Abuja, Salah said AI offers enormous opportunities for spreading Islamic teachings but warned against relying on unverified applications that could misrepresent the religion.

The event, themed “Artificial Intelligence: The Islamic Perspective,” examined the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI in education, governance and human responsibility.

Salah said the COVID-19 pandemic inspired the launch of a volunteer-driven electronic Da’wah platform that has widened the global reach of Islamic propagation.

He said the platform has recorded about 266 new Muslims weekly from 86 countries, with over 41,000 converts in the last five years.

According to him, the initiative goes beyond conversion by providing structured Islamic education in Arabic, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

“We don’t just give shahada. We teach them from scratch—aqidah, taharah and prayers,” he said.

He said AI would further strengthen the programme by automating follow-up processes and making Islamic education more accessible worldwide.

However, he urged Muslims to be careful when using AI for religious learning.

“You have to be very careful which app you use. Just as there are halal apps for food and drink, there should also be halal apps for what to watch and use,” he said. Salah also recommended an AI-powered Qur’an learning application that helps users improve memorisation and correct recitation, especially in areas with limited access to Islamic schools.

Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Jabir Maihula, praised the organisation’s contributions to Islamic education and announced a donation of N3 million to support its programmes.