Egypt’s Fatwa Authority (Dar al-Ifta) has ruled that using artificial intelligence tools, including applications such as ChatGPT, to interpret the Holy Quran is impermissible under Islamic law, warning that such reliance can lead to misinterpretation and the spread of misleading information.
The ruling was issued in response to a formal query on whether AI applications may be used to explain or interpret Quranic verses.
Dar al-Ifta stated that depending independently or entirely on AI-generated interpretations is forbidden, as it exposes the Quran to conjecture, inaccuracies, and misrepresentation. The authority emphasised that proper understanding of the Quran must be grounded in recognised works of tafsir and guided by trusted scholars and established religious institutions.
It cautioned that abandoning authentic sources could result in confusion, doctrinal errors, and the circulation of unreliable explanations among the public.
According to the ruling, AI technologies operate through automated data processing and statistical models and lack genuine comprehension of Quranic meaning. As a result, their outputs may contain factual errors, unverified material, or content that conflicts with Islamic teachings.
Dar al-Ifta highlighted key risks associated with AI-based interpretation, including uncertainty over sources, the inability to verify accuracy, and the absence of a sound scholarly methodology. These shortcomings, it warned, could lead to incorrect meanings being falsely attributed to the Quran.
The authority reiterated that Muslims seeking to understand the Quran should rely on authentic tafsir works, qualified exegetes, and credible religious institutions to ensure accurate and reliable interpretation.
