There have been scholarly discussions and cautious rulings around AI, but not blanket fatwas declaring it outright haram. The consensus across several studies is more nuanced—AI is generally considered permissible (mubah) unless it’s used in ways that contradict Islamic ethics or cause harm.

Scholars often begin with the principle that new technologies are allowed unless proven harmful or unethical.

If AI is used for beneficial purposes—like education, healthcare, or improving access to religious knowledge—it’s often encouraged. But if it’s used for deception, surveillance, or violating privacy, it may be deemed impermissible.

Some scholars have explored whether AI can issue fatwas. The ruling here is that AI can relay fatwas but not originate them, since it lacks human understanding, spiritual insight, and accountability.

- A study on GPT-3.5 found it could issue family law fatwas with surprising accuracy, but also made errors in sensitive areas like divorce and inheritance. Scholars emphasised the need for oversight and warned against relying solely on AI for religious rulings.

There are concerns about AI’s role in shaping moral decisions, especially when it comes to automation in warfare, surveillance, or biased algorithms.

- Scholars stress the importance of intent, transparency, and human accountability when deploying AI in Islamic contexts.

So while there’s no universal fatwa declaring AI haram, there’s a growing body of scholarship urging caution, ethical design, and clear boundaries.

The key thing is for us to be at the forefront of research and development and pioneer the next wave of technologies and play by our own rules. Not 'theirs'.