Artificial Intelligence Ethics: Sharia Grounding and Applied Governance

Abstract

This research aims to present a comprehensive framework for guiding Artificial Intelligence ethics from an Islamic perspective, addressing a pressing knowledge gap. The study adopted a qualitative, analytical, inductive, and deductive methodology, based on an in-depth analysis of Islamic legal texts, the overarching objectives of Islamic Sharia (Maqasid al-Sharia – preservation of religion, self, intellect, progeny, and wealth), and fundamental jurisprudential rules (Qawa'id Fiqhiyya, such as "harm must be eliminated" and "blocking the means to evil"). These principles were applied to contemporary AI issues, alongside a comparative study with global ethical frameworks to construct an applied governance framework.

The results demonstrated the derivation of specific Sharia rulings and controls addressing critical challenges such as algorithmic justice, digital privacy, responsibility and accountability, transparency, intellectual property, and digital fraud. The study highlighted significant convergence between the Islamic framework and global frameworks on core principles like justice and transparency. It also underscored the distinctiveness of the Islamic approach through its deeper metaphysical and ethical grounding, focusing on concepts of stewardship, the spiritual dimension, comprehensive public interest, prevention of harm, and the flexibility of Islamic jurisprudence. The study's limitations include the rapid evolution of AI, necessitating continuous updates, and the complexities of applying ethical principles to autonomous systems, requiring further detailed research into accountability and transparency mechanisms