ISLAMIC ETHICAL CONCERNS IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: AN ANALYSIS OF ADAL, MASLAHAH, ZARAR AND AMANAH

Abstract

The fast proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reshaped global industries, from healthcare diagnosed and personalized education to financial services and governance, while simultaneously increasing profound ethical concern including algorithm bias, privacy erosion, accountability deficits and potential harm to human dignity. The challenges demand Ethical framework that transcends Western secular paradigms and incorporates diverse culture and religious prospective. This paper explores AI through lens of Islamic ethics, focusing on Maqasid-al-sharaih the higher objective of Islamic law which safeguard faith (din), life (nafs), intellect (aqal), progeny(nasal) and wealth(mal). Employing a qualitative, interpretive and comparative methodology, the study draws on contemporary scholarship (2023-2025) and primary Islamic resources to map core principles for example justice (adal), public interest (maslahah), harm prevention (zarar) and trusteeship (amanah) onto real world AI application and dilemmas. By conducting a comparative analysis, it manifest synergies and tension among these principles, proposing a structured decision-making framework for ethical AI governance. Th key contribution is culturally resonant, pluralist approach that bridges Islamic jurisprudence with global AI ethics addressing critical gaps in existing literature and offering practical guidance for developers, policymakers and societies. This framework promotes responsible innovation that uphold human dignity, ensure justice and balance technological benefits with moral responsibility in increasingly diverse and interconnected Muslim majority contexts.