Artificial Intelligence and the Authority of Student Knowledge: The Perspective of the Purification of Islamic Teachings by Muhammad Abduh

Abstract

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought significant changes to the way students acquire, validate, and understand knowledge, particularly in Islamic studies. The growing dependence on AI has generated epistemological issues related to authority of knowledge, as algorithm based digital information is often perceived as faster and more practical than consulting authentic Islamic sources. This study aims to describe how the use of AI affects students' knowledge authority within the framework of the purification of Islamic teachings as articulated by Muhammad Abduh. Employing a phenomenological method, the research involved ten students from various faculties at an Islamic higher education institution. Data were collected through observation, in depth interviews, and documentation, then analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that while students utilize AI to support academic activities, most of them are not yet able to assess the validity of AI generated information based on the principles of revelation and reason. A phenomenon of "digital taqlid" emerges, in which information is accepted without verification. However, some students demonstrate critical use of AI and balance it with Islamic values, aligning with Abduh's purification framework that emphasizes rationality, ijtihad, and adherence to revelation. This study concludes that AI can be a beneficial tool when used selectively, critically, and grounded in the authoritative epistemology of Islam.