The increasingly massive pace of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) has touched all aspects of life, including the landscape of Islamic education. Amidst this wave of disruption, a crucial challenge for religious educational institutions is to maintain contemporary relevance without sacrificing their core identity and noble Islamic values.
During an international seminar initiated by the Education and Cadreization Commission (KPK) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Jakarta, the Director of the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof. Shahir Akram Hassan, emphasized that technology should not be seen as a threat to tradition. On the contrary, technology needs to be positioned as a strategic instrument to support the development of the ummah based on ethics and the objectives of Sharia.
Prof. Shahir highlighted the ongoing competence gap among graduates of Islamic institutions. He observed a dichotomy between those with deep religious literacy but minimal technological skills, and those who are digitally adept but lack an ethical foundation. To bridge this gap, he proposed the Islamic Development Management (IDM) approach, which combines the principles of maqashid shariah with modern digital governance management.
Furthermore, he asserted that Islamic educational institutions must not merely be spectators in the digital revolution. A curriculum reorientation is needed to cultivate a cross-disciplinary generation—future leaders who are not only technically competent but also firmly uphold Islamic ethical principles when operating advanced tools such as AI.
The seminar, which also featured academics from the Philippines and Indonesia, served as a momentum for MUI's KPK to strengthen global collaboration. Digital transformation, according to Prof. Shahir, must begin with educational reform to produce a generation capable of leading change without being uprooted from their fundamental religious values.
