Developing the Arabic Language and Islamic Sciences with AI: Envisioning New Horizons

تطوير اللغة العربية والعلوم الإسلامية بالذكاء الاصطناعي: استشراف لآفاق جديدة

Abstract

The Arabic language and Islamic sciences in the modern era face multiple challenges related to dissemination, comprehension, and application in contemporary life, particularly considering the dominance of foreign languages and the rapid advancements in technology and communication. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one of the most significant features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it has become possible to employ this technology in the service of the Arabic language and its sciences on the one hand, and Islamic sciences in their various branches on the other, in an unprecedented manner in history. This study aims to examine the potential offered by Artificial Intelligence to strengthen the presence of the Arabic language in the digital sphere and to support Islamic sciences in terms of education, indexing, research, and analysis. The study focuses on several contemporary applications such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), generative language models, machine translation, and the analysis of Islamic legal texts. It also explores the use of AI in developing interconnected and intelligently searchable databases in the fields of Islamic jurisprudence, Qur’anic exegesis, and Hadith studies. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology and relies on the examination of actual technological projects, both global and local. It compares the levels of advancement achieved in major world languages with those attained in Arabic, while highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Arab and Islamic initiatives. Furthermore, the study addresses the technical, linguistic, and cultural challenges that hinder educational and religious institutions from effectively benefiting from AI tools, and it proposes ways to overcome these obstacles through strategic collaboration among linguists, Islamic scholars, and technology developers. The study also proposes a future-oriented vision emphasizing the necessity of conscious investment in Arab-Islamic Artificial Intelligence to ensure the development of technological tools that emerge from within the cultural and intellectual framework of the Arab-Islamic identity and are grounded in a profound understanding of its religious and cultural specificity. It further calls for the integration of these technologies into linguistic and Islamic educational curricula and their activation across digital platforms to provide solid, accurate, and accessible knowledge content for all segments of society, especially the youth. The paper concludes that Artificial Intelligence is not merely a tool, but rather a historic opportunity to renew the methods of discourse, expand spheres of influence, and preserve linguistic and religious identity amid the challenges of digital globalization.