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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I have a date farm, and the dates come in different categories, and within each category there are different sizes. How is zakāh paid on the yield?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the yield reaches the niṣāb (the minimum threshold for zakāh to become obligatory) — which is five awsuq (plural of wasq), equivalent to (611) kg — then zakāh becomes obligatory upon it, at a rate of one-tenth ('ushr) if irrigated by rainwater (i.e., naturally, without the use of machinery), or one-twentieth (half of the 'ushr) if irrigated using machinery/equipment.
If the yield of dates consists of different varieties, then zakāh should be paid from each variety according to its respective proportion. If this proves difficult, it is permissible to pay from a medium-quality variety [representative of the average].
It is stated in Ḥāshiyatā Qulyūbī wa ‘Umayrah (Vol.2/P.22): "Different varieties are combined together [for the purpose of calculating the niṣāb] — such as the various types of dates, the various types of raisins, and so on — and zakāh is paid from each type according to its respective proportion. However, if this becomes difficult due to the large number of varieties and the small quantity of each individual type, then zakāh should be paid from a medium-quality variety among them — neither the best nor the worst — out of consideration for both sides [the giver and the poor recipient]. If one goes to the trouble of paying from each variety according to its proportion, this is also permissible." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on a fictitious marriage for the purpose of obtaining citizenship?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no such thing in our noble sharīʿah as a "nominal" or "fictitious" marriage or divorce. Marriage and divorce are among the sacred ordinances of Allah, and it is not permissible to manipulate them or use them as a stratagem to obtain worldly gains.
The foundational purpose of a marriage contract is the permanence and continuity of the relationship between the spouses — to establish a family, and to bring forth righteous offspring. So sacred is this bond that Allah the Almighty Himself described it as a solemn covenant (mīthāq ghalīẓ), saying {what means}: "And if you wish to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount of wealth, do not take any of it back. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin? And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?" [Al-Nisāʾ/ 20–21]
Accordingly, it is not permissible to resort to manipulation and deception in contracts that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has described as a "solemn covenant" — all for the sake of material and worldly benefit. Marriage is built upon permanence and does not admit of a fixed time limit. If a time limit is stipulated in the contract, the contract is rendered invalid by the consensus of the jurists. Similarly, marriage is impermissible when there exists a mutual, concealed intention to limit its duration — even if no time limit is explicitly mentioned in the contract — for this constitutes a form of unlawful circumvention of the sharīʿah. This is to say nothing of the lying and deception that such conduct involves, the prohibition of which needs no elaboration. Lying, deception, and fraud for the purpose of obtaining worldly gains are among the gravest of sins.
If, however, the marriage contract is first concluded in a valid sharʿī manner and then registered civilly, it is sound and fully valid. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, with the intention of waking up shortly afterward?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is permissible for a Muslim to sleep before the time of the Fajr prayer begins, intending to wake up and perform the prayer, by setting an alarm or asking someone to wake him. What is to be avoided is that a person sleeps while he predominantly assumes that he will not wake up for the prayer.
If he does not wake up until the time of the prayer has ended, he must make it up. It is recommended that he hasten to make it up as soon as he wakes, and likewise recommended that he make up its sunnah along with it.
It is stated in al-Majmūʿ by Shaykh al-Islām Imam al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him): “Whoever was obliged to pray and did not pray until the time passed must make it up, because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.’ It is recommended that he make it up immediately, because of the ḥadīth we have mentioned. If he delays it, that is permissible, because it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) missed the Fajr prayer and did not pray it until he had left the valley. Had it been required immediately, he would not have delayed it. Abū Is-ḥāq said: If he left it without a valid Sharia excuse, he must make it up immediately, because he was negligent in delaying it.”
It is therefore the duty of every Muslim to keep the prayer in its proper time, seeking help from Allah the Exalted and striving against the self to do so. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Does collecting saliva and swallowing it break the fast?

Swallowing collected saliva does not break the fast, but it is an unnecessary and meaningless act.