RECONSTRUCTING ISLAMIC THOUGHT IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: AN EPISTEMOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents unprecedented epistemological challenges and opportunities for Islamic thought. This conceptual paper examines the reconstruction of Islamic epistemology in response to AI technologies, exploring how traditional Islamic knowledge frameworks can engage with, critique, and contribute to contemporary AI discourse. Through a comprehensive epistemological analysis, this study investigates the intersection of Islamic intellectual tradition rooted in revelation (waḥy), reason (ʿaql), and empirical observation (mushāhadah) with AI's computational paradigms of knowledge acquisition and processing. The paper analyzes key epistemological tensions including the nature of consciousness and intelligence, ethical frameworks for autonomous systems, and the preservation of human agency in an increasingly automated world. Drawing on classical Islamic scholarship and contemporary technological developments, this research proposes a framework for Islamic engagement with AI that maintains theological integrity while embracing technological innovation. The findings suggest that Islamic epistemology offers distinctive insights on knowledge validation, ethical reasoning, and human dignity that can enrich global AI ethics discourse while addressing concerns about technological determinism and the displacement of human judgment. This reconstruction is essential not only for Muslim communities navigating technological transformation but also for contributing Islamic intellectual resources to broader conversations about the future of humanity in the age of intelligent machines.