Reliance on AI for Quranic exegesis declared unlawful by Egyptian Dar al-Ifta

Cairo: Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta has declared the use of artificial intelligence (AI) applications for explaining the meanings, interpretation and exegesis of the Holy Quran to be religiously impermissible.

According to Arab media reports, the ruling was issued in response to a query regarding the use of artificial intelligence to explain the teachings and meanings of the Quran.

Dar al-Ifta warned that reliance on AI-based applications could lead to the spread of misinformation and the development of misleading or incorrect interpretations.

The religious authority emphasised that the correct understanding of Islamic teachings should be sought only from qualified, credible and experienced scholars.

It further stated that for the interpretation of Quranic verses, reference must always be made to recognised classical commentaries, trusted scholars and established religious institutions to ensure that authentic teachings of Islam are conveyed accurately.

Reports indicate that AI applications mentioned in the ruling include platforms such as ChatGPT.

Dar al-Ifta clarified that such programmes cannot be considered reliable sources for the interpretation of the Holy Quran.

The ruling comes at a time when educational, religious and research institutions worldwide are actively debating the benefits and risks associated with the growing use of artificial intelligence.