At the International Conference on Human Sciences and Civilisations (i-CONSCIENCE 2025), held today at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar called upon Malaysia’s Islamic authorities to develop Shariah-compliant guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasised that technology must serve as an enabler of faith-based outreach, not merely as a tool for economic or logistical purposes.
Dr Mohd Na’im highlighted pressing concerns such as ethical data usage, identity manipulation through deepfake technologies, and the proliferation of misleading or distorted religious content. “If left unregulated, AI risks eroding public trust instead of reinforcing it,” he warned.
The minister also referenced JAKIM’s “Islamic Content Guidelines for New Media” as an essential first step toward ensuring digital content aligns with the principles of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. “Muslims must not only be users of technology, but also creators and leaders in science, biotechnology and AI, guided by religious and humanitarian values,” he said.
Meanwhile, UMPSA’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Yatimah Alias spoke about the vital role of humanities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution during the event. She underscored the need for bridging AI and digital technologies with ethics, values and cultural heritage, warning that neglecting intellectual traditions can undermine society’s foundations.
(Source: Bernama)
