Dr. Kamshad Mohsin (Maharishi University of Information Technology – School of Law) has posted Emerging Technologies and Islamic Laws: A Comparative Analysis of Prominent Islamic Jurisdictions on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and digital cybersecurity tools present profound ethical, legal, and societal challenges. This paper examines how Islamic laws (Sharia) respond to these technologies, drawing on principles like Maqasid al-Sharia (objectives of Islamic law) and usul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence). A comparative analysis is conducted across prominent Islamic jurisdictions, including Sunnimajority countries (e.g., Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey) and Shiamajority ones (e.g., Iran), using doctrinal research methods supplemented by recent developments up to 2025. Key findings reveal convergences in ethical frameworks emphasizing human dignity (karama), justice (adl), and public welfare (maslaha), but divergences in implementation, such as stricter cybercrime laws in Indonesia versus bioethical conservatism in Iran and innovative AI fatwa tools in Saudi Arabia. The study highlights the need for ijtihad (independent reasoning) to adapt Sharia to modern contexts, proposing unified global Islamic guidelines through bodies like the OIC Fiqh Academy. Sources from scholarly works, recent fatwas, and legal amendments inform the analysis, underscoring the balance between innovation and moral imperatives while addressing Western dominance in tech ethics.