AI Tools Are Transforming Muslim Worship. Religious Scholars Are Conflicted
AI tools are increasingly being integrated into Muslim worship practices, providing benefits such as instant feedback on Quran recitation. However, this shift has raised concerns among religious scholars about the potential loss of human connection in spiritual practices. The balance between utilizing technology and maintaining traditional values remains a significant topic of discussion within the community.
- ▪Tarteel, an AI app for Quran recitation, has gained popularity in mosques worldwide, facilitating over six million hours of engagement during Ramadan.
- ▪Some religious leaders, like those in Egypt, have expressed concerns about AI's influence on Islamic practices and issued bans on its use for Quran interpretation.
- ▪While AI tools offer advantages for learning and practicing faith, they also pose risks of promoting individualism over community connection.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Tarique Kazi used to recite the Quran to his mother. Kazi is a 32-year-old Houston-based Muslim and teacher of hifdh—the Islamic practice of memorizing the Quran in order to deepen faith. For Kazi, the hours he spent with his mother studying the sacred text were among his most cherished. “It was the most beautiful thing that I always looked forward to… my mom giving me feedback, telling me how I did,” he tells TIME. But in 2022, his mother died of stomach cancer. The following Ramadan, Kazi found himself without someone reliable to check his recitation during taraweeh—the special voluntary nighttime prayers performed during that month—for mistakes. So he turned to AI. Every year since his mother’s death, Kazi has recited the Quran to Tarteel, an AI app trained on the Quran.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at TIME — Top.
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