ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE REALM OF FATWA: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON ITS USE AS A REFERENCE TOOL IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has significantly transformed various sectors including Islamic legal research and fatwa issuance. However, this rapid integration of Al into religious and legal domains raises critical concerns regarding the authenticity, accuracy, and authority of Al-generated religious responses. In particular, the increasing tendency of users to consult Al tools such as ChatGPT for religious guidance presents a pressing epistemological and ethical problem: to what extent can Al function as a reliable reference in matters of Islamic jurisprudence without undermining the institutional integrity of authoritative fatwa bodies in Malaysia? This study examines the feasibility of using Al as a reference tool in the domain of fatwa, focusing specifically on its application within the Malaysian context. By analysing selected fatwa frameworks and institutional perspectives, this study also reflects on the epistemological and ethical implications of integrating Al technologies into fatwa processes. The study employs a qualitative analytical approach based on document analysis and comparative assessment between Al-generated responses and authoritative fatwa sources, to evaluate the extent to which Al can support, but not replace, the role of human muftis and fatwa committees. Findings indicate that while Al demonstrates notable utility in data retrieval, pattern recognition, and preliminary legal referencing, its limitations in contextual reasoning (waq‘ī), moral discernment, and independent ijtihad underscore the necessity of maintaining strict epistemic boundaries. The study emphasizes that Al integration in fatwa processes must be guided by the Islamic principle of tabayyun (critical verification), ensuring that digital information employed in legal deliberations is critically evaluated in both form and substance. Consequently, this paper proposes ethical and operational considerations for the use of Al in fatwa management, advocating a complementary framework that supports, rather than supplants, the sanctity and authority of traditional Islamic jurisprudence.