The world of Islamic education is currently at a crossroads due to the rapid flow of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. The ongoing digital transformation is not only changing working methods and social interactions but also affecting religious perspectives. Responding to this phenomenon, the Director of the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV) at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof Shahir Akram Hassan, reminded of the importance of maintaining the relevance of Islamic education without sacrificing traditional roots.
In an international seminar organized by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Jakarta, Prof Shahir emphasized that technology should be positioned as a supporting instrument for community development in line with sharia objectives. According to him, the main challenge is not abandoning tradition, but how noble Islamic values can be transformed into effective modern development practices that remain grounded in a strong ethical foundation.
Furthermore, he highlighted a clear competency gap between graduates from religious studies backgrounds and technological experts. This gap creates a polarization where deep religious understanding is often not accompanied by mastery of digital governance, and vice versa. Therefore, the 'Islamic Development Management' (IDM) approach is proposed as a solution to bridge these disciplines, ensuring that technology is used responsibly for the common good.
Prof Shahir stressed that Islamic educational institutions are required to innovate and abandon conventional patterns. He encouraged the emergence of a generation of future leaders with cross-disciplinary competencies, namely those capable of combining the depth of Islamic ethical values with digital technology proficiency. The success in answering the challenges of this digital revolution, according to him, absolutely depends on the quality of education capable of producing agents of change with integrity.
