The use of artificial intelligence in islamic religious education at higher education institutions: An analysis of opportunities and challenges

Abstract

This academic article explores the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Islamic Religious Education (IRE) at the university level, with a focus on analysing the existing opportunities and challenges. This topic is important to study because, besides being a relatively unexplored field, this research serves as a step towards understanding how technology can be effectively utilized in the context of IRE at the university. Furthermore, this study is also conducted to identify potential areas for further research and innovative solutions to address existing challenges. The research method used in this study is qualitative descriptive. Data was collected through interviews with lecturers and students, as well as a review of the curriculum, course outlines, and IRE teaching materials. Additionally, a review of various supporting literature in the form of journals, books, and other research reports was conducted. From the study results, four primary opportunities for enhancing the quality of IRE and character development for students were identified, namely a more personalized learning experience, improved content quality, content refinement, and learning simulations. AI can facilitate a more adaptive and responsive learning experience tailored to individual needs and enable the development of richer and more in-depth educational content. However, the implementation of AI also faces significant challenges, including ethical and religious sensitivity issues, resource availability, apathy and resistance to technology, and content quality assurance