By SHEILA ROZARIO
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) in Malaysia should be guided by more than just the Western model. Instead, the ideals of “turath Islam” (Islamic legacy) should be applied to the subject.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that by using Islamic knowledge and legacy, including manners and morality, the country’s abilities and development of artificial intelligence would be enhanced by Islamic knowledge and legacy.
According to Anwar, the knowledge used in artificial intelligence technology is based on materials from Western countries because they invented the technology.
As a result, Islamic intellectual tradition needs to be incorporated to guarantee that the application of artificial intelligence in Islamic nations does not depart from the Islamic moral system and ideals.
Anwar said this on Jun 1 during the Riyadhu As-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous) appreciation seminar, in conjunction with the Selangor Turath Islami Festival at Dewan Syarahan and Muzakarah Islam in Shah Alam.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar were also present.
Anwar also praised the Selangor government for hosting an Islamic heritage festival to revive the great deeds of Islam.
“What is being done in Selangor is not only interesting, but it also serves to preserve a long-standing tradition of (acquiring) information through more traditional means, such as teachers explaining the contents of a book.
“In the realm of social media, individuals can obtain information in an instant. One must read, study, enjoy, and comprehend it to fulfil the requirements of the Islamic tradition of seeking knowledge,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Amirudin stated that Selangor was dedicated to integrating “turath” (tradition) into mainstream society by establishing the Turath Academy, which will be managed by the State mosque – Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
“TALAQQI” STUDY
He said the State government had also created a curriculum for “talaqqi” (face-to-face) study with teachers or religious scholars in mosques. This curriculum would be implemented in nine districts in Selangor as a starting point.
During the event, the Prime Minister also announced the launch of the Malay translation of Imam al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith and Imam al-Ghazali’s magnum opus, Kitab Ihya’ Ulumuddin (The Revival of the Religious Sciences).
The purpose of the Selangor Turath Islami Festival, which was in its second iteration from May 26-Jun 2, was to instill a sense of Islamic heritage into the everyday lives of Muslims living in the archipelago.
Prof Dr Ali Jum’ah, a former Grand Mufti of Egypt, selected the “Riyadhu as-Salihin” and the “40 Hadith” to be studied and appreciated at the festival. The festival features some of the most prominent scholars from around the world.
