Articles

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Islamic Banking Operations
Author : Dr. Safwan Odaybat
Date Added : 03-01-2024

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Islamic Banking Operations

 

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

One of the emerging topics for which seminars and conferences are held, and attracts researchers to study and explore its potential developments across various fields and disciplines is the subject of Artificial Intelligence. This topic elicits concerns about its potentially destructive impacts on one hand, while on the other hand, it raises hopes and expectations for significant positive effects on improving the quality of life and serving humanity.

 

Before delving into explaining the impact of Artificial Intelligence on Islamic banking, it is essential to clarify the meaning of Artificial Intelligence and Islamic banking:

 

Artificial Intelligence can be defined as a set of technologies and software aimed at enabling computer systems to perform tasks that are typically considered important for human intelligence and facilitate operations associated with specific tasks.

 

Artificial Intelligence relies on data and algorithms to achieve specific objectives. Its applications encompass a diverse range of fields such as machine learning, natural language processing, robotics manufacturing, medical diagnosis, risk management, and more.

 

Islamic banking can be defined as a financial system based on the principles of Islamic law (Sharia). This system requires abstaining from practices such as usury (interest), uncertainty or speculation (Gharar), and injustice. It encourages financing and investment in ways that are in tune with Islamic values and principles.

 

The role of artificial intelligence in advancing the operations and services of Islamic banking is highlighted through the following:

 

1-Enhancing Efficiency and Risk Management:

Artificial intelligence can contribute to the development of Islamic banking by improving its operational efficiency through enhancing analysis processes and risk management. One possible means to achieve this is by utilizing machine learning to enhance credit assessment, identifying potential loans with greater accuracy and efficiency. Additionally, artificial intelligence will contribute to boosting employee efficiency by selecting suitable development, training, and educational methods tailored to their needs.

 

2-Development of Innovative Financial Products:

Artificial intelligence enables Islamic banking to develop innovative financial products that align with the principles of Islamic Sharia. For example, smart investment solutions can be developed based on financial analytics and Sharia-compliant guidelines.

3-Enhancement of Customer Experience:

Artificial intelligence can improve customer experiences in Islamic banking by providing personalized financial services tailored to the specific needs of customers. It can offer accurate investment guidance that aligns with customers' goals without conflicting with Islamic values.

4-Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing:

Artificial intelligence can contribute to enhancing financial integrity through intelligent operations that develop and improve the quality of monitoring financial transactions. Consequently, it can uncover all illicit and internationally prohibited activities, including money laundering and terrorism financing.

 

5-Facilitating Compliance with Islamic Sharia:

Artificial intelligence contributes to the development of Islamic banking by achieving better compliance with the rules of Sharia. This can be accomplished by providing guidance to financial professionals or by enhancing financial audit and monitoring processes.

 

In conclusion, the topic of the impact of artificial intelligence on Islamic banking in general requires precise scientific studies and research to highlight both the positive aspects and potential challenges. While artificial intelligence may contribute to enhancing the efficiency of financial services and their compliance with Sharia, ethical considerations and Islamic values must be taken into account in the application of this modern technological advancement.

 

Article References:

1-Book: "Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Economy and Islamic Banking" by Dr. Rafiq Ali Suleiman.

2-Book: "Islamic Banking and Artificial Intelligence Technology: Challenges and Opportunities" by Dr. Mohammed Al Nuaimi.

3-Research Paper: "Artificial Intelligence Technology and Its Impact on Islamic Financial Services" by Researcher Ahmed Abdullah Al Salman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

Is fasting obligatory for a child?

Fasting is not obligatory for a child until they reach puberty. Puberty is determined by well-known signs, the most common of which are: nocturnal emission (for both males and females), menstruation (for females), or reaching the age of fifteen lunar years.
A guardian must instruct their children to fast once they reach the age of discernment, which is around seven years old, if they are capable of fasting.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on opening an account in a commercial bank in order to deposit a sum and use it for personal purposes, such as transfers and electronic payments?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is forbidden for a Muslim, if he has a choice, to open an account in an interest-based (ribawī) bank, even if the account earns no interest, because doing so assists in ribā, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted (which means): “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” [al-Māʾidah/2]
This is because such banks invest deposited funds in forbidden ribā-based transactions, and depositing with them is therefore a form of assisting them in what is unlawful. Assisting in what is unlawful is prohibited by the Sharīʿah. However, if there is a pressing need to open an account in an interest-based bank and it is not possible to open one in an Islamic bank, there is no objection to doing so.
The ruling on bank interest and the prizes distributed by interest-based banks was previously explained in Fatwa no. (471). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on the prayer of one who said "Subḥāna Rabbiya al-ʿAẓīm" in prostration (*sujūd*) and forgot to correct it?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Saying “Subḥāna Rabbiya al-ʿAẓīm” in bowing (rukūʿ) and “Subḥāna Rabbiya al-Aʿlā” in prostration (sujūd) is one of the hayʾāt (non-essential sunnahs) of the prayer. Whoever omits it, whether deliberately or by forgetfulness, or replaces it with another remembrance (dhikr), his prayer is valid and he does not perform sujūd al-sahw. Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Our school holds that one does not prostrate for omitting the audible or silent recitation, the tasbīḥ, and the rest of the hayʾāt.” [al-Majmūʿ, Vol.4/p.127]
If he performs sujūd al-sahw for something that does not call for it, his prayer is invalidated, because he introduced a prostration of forgetfulness without a cause, and he must repeat the prayer. The exception is one who did so out of forgetfulness or ignorance, whether because he recently entered Islam or because he lives far from scholars; he is excused and his prayer is not invalidated.
It is stated in Mughni al-Muḥtāj (Vol.1/p.417): “It is stated in al-Anwār: If he does something that does not call for sujūd al-sahw, thinking that it does, and then prostrates, his prayer is not invalidated if he is ignorant because he recently entered Islam or because he is far from scholars.”
Since this issue is hidden from the laity, as it is among the subtleties of knowledge, and the laity are excused for ignorance of whatever is of such a nature, and their act of obedience is not invalidated because of it, it may be said that the prayer of one who has not acquired knowledge of the issue is not invalidated. As for after knowing it, the prayer is invalidated.
Whoever realizes while still in the prayer that his prostration was out of place, it is sunnah for him to perform sujūd al-sahw. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on the white discharge (*Al-Qassat al-Bayda'*) if it is in a very small amount—is it considered a sign of purity?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Among the signs of purity (Tahr) for a woman is the white discharge (Al-Qassat al-Bayda'), which is a clear, pure white fluid, regardless of whether it is minimal in quantity, or complete dryness (Jafaf), wherein secretions cease entirely such that if a white cotton cloth is inserted, it comes out completely clean. Once a woman observes either of these two signs, she has attained ritual purity.
 
Furthermore, another sign of purity is when the duration of the menstrual period exceeds the maximum limit of menstruation, which is fifteen days. If it exceeds this period, it becomes evident that she is experiencing non-menstrual bleeding (Istihadah).
 
The rulings pertaining to menstruation may be reviewed in the article: "Rulings on Menstruation and Postnatal Bleeding Every Muslim Woman Must Know." And Allah Almighty knows best.