Investigating The Ethical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Its Comparison with Islamic Anthropological and Epistemological Principles

Document Type : Scientific-Research Article

Author
Nazila Khatib Zanjani
Associate Professor of Distance Education Planning, Department of Educational Sciences, Payame_ Noor University, Iran
10.30497/rc.2026.249718.2161
Abstract
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and its growing penetration into diverse domains of human life, coupled with the predominance of conventional and functionalist approaches in contemporary AI ethics, has generated profound challenges concerning the relationship between technology, human dignity, moral responsibility, and epistemological foundations. In response to these challenges, the present study undertakes a comparative examination of the ethical foundations of artificial intelligence in relation to Islamic anthropological and epistemological principles. Employing a documentary, comparative–analytical methodology, data were collected from authoritative domestic and international sources and analyzed using Bereday’s comparative method through four sequential stages: description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison.The findings reveal that although the ethical frameworks of artificial intelligence, Islamic anthropology, and Islamic epistemology have emerged within distinct technological, philosophical, and theological contexts, they exhibit meaningful convergences at the level of foundational values, alongside notable structural divergences. The comparative analysis demonstrates that all three frameworks converge on the centrality of the human being, the rejection of reductionist conceptions of humanity, and the affirmation of dignity, agency, rationality, and moral responsibility, as well as a shared concern for justice, the common good, and the prevention of harm. Nevertheless, the principal divergences reside in their theoretical and teleological underpinnings. While AI ethics is largely characterized by a secular, application-oriented orientation focused on the governance and regulation of technological systems, Islamic anthropological and epistemological principles—grounded in theological and philosophical foundations—emphasize the ontological dignity of the human person, the moral orientation of knowledge, wisdom, and the meaningfulness of action and scientific inquiry. Overall, the findings suggest that integrating and enriching the ethical foundations of artificial intelligence through Islamic anthropological and epistemological insights can contribute to the development of a contextually grounded, human-centered, and value-oriented model for the responsible design, governance, and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
Keywords
Ethical Principles
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropological
Epistemological
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Religion & Communication
Volume 33, Issue 1 - Serial Number 69
religion and communication
September 2026
Pages 139-172