Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world at extraordinary speed, transforming economies, warfare, healthcare, and the way information is produced and consumed. But as this revolution gathers pace, Wasim Moosa asks a pressing question: where do Muslims stand in a world increasingly shaped by AI, and will we help direct its future or simply be swept along by it?
As the United States, China and the European Union race to dominate this emerging technological frontier, much of the Muslim world risks becoming little more than a consumer of technologies designed, owned and governed by others.
This should concern us deeply. History teaches that societies which fail to adapt to major technological shifts often find themselves politically, economically and culturally marginalised. The Industrial Revolution reshaped global power relations, the digital revolution did the same, and the AI revolution now unfolding may prove even more consequential.
For Muslims, the challenge is not merely technological. It is civilisational.
Most Muslims today encounter AI in simple forms: translation applications, recommendation algorithms on social media, digital assistants and automated customer services. However, AI’s influence extends far beyond these everyday tools. Artificial intelligence increasingly determines what news people see, which voices are amplified, how financial systems operate and even how wars are fought.
The danger is that the Ummah enters this new era without adequate preparation.
Many Muslim-majority countries continue to face significant challenges, including underdeveloped digital infrastructure, unequal access to technology and insufficient investment in research and development. Unless these shortcomings are addressed urgently, Muslim societies risk becoming dependent on foreign technology platforms and external actors who may neither understand nor share their values and priorities.
The implications extend beyond economics.
At a time when Islamophobia remains a global reality, AI presents new risks. Algorithms trained on biased datasets can reinforce harmful stereotypes and discriminatory practices in areas ranging from employment and housing to policing and media representation. Worse still, advances in generative AI have made it easier than ever to produce convincing falsehoods, deepfake videos and fabricated narratives targeting Muslims and Islam.
Muslims cannot simply complain about these developments from the sidelines. We must become active participants in shaping the technologies that will influence future generations.
Fortunately, Islam provides a robust ethical framework for engaging with emerging technologies. The principles of maqasid al-shariah, preserving faith, life, intellect, wealth and human dignity, offer valuable guidance in assessing whether technological innovations serve or harm humanity. Concepts such as justice, accountability, transparency and the prohibition of harm are not obstacles to technological progress; they are essential safeguards against its misuse.
The Muslim world should therefore move beyond being passive consumers of technology and invest seriously in building indigenous technological capacity.
This means investing in digital literacy from an early age, expanding access to science and engineering education, supporting Muslim entrepreneurs and creating ethical frameworks for AI governance rooted in Islamic values. It also means encouraging collaboration between scholars, technologists, policymakers and civil society to ensure that technological advancement serves the common good rather than narrow commercial or political interests.
There are already encouraging signs. AI has the potential to democratise access to Islamic scholarship through translation tools, preserve priceless manuscripts through digitisation, strengthen healthcare systems and improve financial inclusion in underserved communities. Properly harnessed, AI could become a powerful instrument for serving humanity and advancing the public good.
Some thinkers have even begun speaking about the possibility of a “cyber Ummah” — a global digital community united by shared values, consultation and service to humanity. While such a vision remains aspirational, it reflects an important truth: the Ummah’s future will increasingly be shaped in digital spaces.
The AI revolution is already underway. The question is whether Muslims will help shape it, or whether they will once again find themselves shaped by forces beyond their control.
The choice, and the responsibility, rests with us.
