An Ethical Framework for AI in Islamic Education: Synthesizing Maqashid al-Sharia and National Legal Regulations in Indonesia
Alfan Rifai, University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Andri Nirwana AN, University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Waston , University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Muh. Nur Rochim Maksum, University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Viky Nur Vambudi, University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
Abstract
The rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Indonesia’s education sector presents significant ethical and regulatory challenges, particularly in Islamic educational institutions. While AI offers promising pedagogical tools, its implementation often lacks spiritual safeguards and value-oriented governance. Data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (2023) show that only 17.4% of madrasahs possess AI-supportive infrastructure, and fewer than 10% have established ethical protocols for digital learning. This raises a fundamental question: how can AI in Islamic education be ethically governed to ensure both legal compliance and spiritual integrity? This study aims to formulate an integrative ethical framework grounded in maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah and Indonesia’s national legal system. Employing a normative-juridical method with conceptual and hermeneutic approaches, the study examines the convergence between Islamic legal objectives and AI-relevant national regulations, including the Personal Data Protection Act, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, and the National AI Strategy. The findings yield a four-pillar ethical model: algorithmic justice, digital adab, learner protection, and participatory oversight by scholars and educators. This model reveals that maqāṣid can address normative gaps in national law, particularly in safeguarding religious values, moderating content, and ensuring algorithmic transparency. The implications suggest the urgency of maqāṣid-based policy reforms, curriculum innovation in digital ethics, and collaboration between religious authorities and technology developers. The study concludes that AI in Islamic education can be transformed from a neutral tool into a spiritually guided instrument for cultivating ethically aware, intellectually capable, and legally protected learners.
Keywords:
Maqashid Al-Sharia, Artificial Intelligence, Islamic Education, Legal Ethics, Technology Regulation
