E-Prosiding Persidangan Serantau Manasik Haji 2025 (MANASIK2025)

MANASIK2025 Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7-8 Oktober 2025 630 2. What recurrent issues faced by Malaysian pilgrims could potentially be addressed by AI-driven systems? 3. What are the benefits and risks of deploying generative AI for fatwa automation in Malaysia’s Hajj management? 4. How can a Sharīʿah -compliant, state-aligned framework for AI-driven fatwa automation be conceptualised to preserve scholarly accountability and institutional legitimacy? Accordingly, the objectives of the study are: • To analyse uṣūl al -fiqh principles alongside Malaysian procedural rules governing fatwa issuance. • To review Malaysian Hajj-related fatwa and Muzakarah Haji resolutions to identify common issues requiring guidance. • To evaluate the potential role and limitations of generative AI in addressing these issues. • To propose a maqāṣid al - sharīʿah– based framework that enables AI to function as a supportive tool within Malaysia’s fatwa governance structures. Rationale and Significance of the Study This study is significant for several reasons. First, it contributes to academic discourse on the intersection of Islamic law, technology, and governance by exploring an under-researched area: AI- driven fatwa automation in the Hajj context. While existing scholarship has discussed fatwa digitisation and online fatwa platforms (e.g., IslamWeb, e-fatwa Malaysia), few have examined the implications of generative AI technologies capable of producing instant, context-specific rulings (Ab Rahim et al., 2025). Second, the study offers practical relevance for policymakers, religious authorities, and institutions like TH. By conceptualising a hybrid model where AI operates under human supervision and within established governance frameworks, this research seeks to provide actionable insights for future implementation. Such a model could enhance accessibility for pilgrims -especially those facing urgent ritual dilemmas during Hajj-while preserving doctrinal integrity and institutional legitimacy. Third, this research advances the discourse on maqāṣid al - sharīʿah and technology . By applying the higher objectives of Islamic law — protection of religion ( dīn ), life ( nafs ), intellect ( ʿaql ), dignity ( ʿird ), and wealth ( māl ) — the study highlights the ethical safeguards necessary to align AI-driven tools with Sharīʿah. This ensures that technological innovation serves not merely functional needs but also moral and spiritual imperatives. Finally, this research has global significance . Malaysia’s Hajj management system is often regarded as a model for other Muslim-majority countries (Hajj Reporters, 2024). Developing a conceptual framework for AI-driven fatwa automation in this context could inform international best practices, offering a blueprint adaptable to diverse socio- legal environments while maintaining fidelity to Sharīʿah. Overview of the Article Structure This article is organised into five main sections. Following this Introduction , the second section provides a literature review on AI in Islamic law, fatwa governance in Malaysia, and prior initiatives in digital fatwa delivery. The third section outlines the methodology , detailing the doctrinal approach employed, sources consulted (Sharīʿah texts, Malaysian statutes, Muzakarah resolutions), and analytical framework based on maqāṣid al - sharīʿah . The fourth section presents the analysis and discussion , covering: (i) the conditions for valid fatwa issuance, (ii) recurrent Hajj-related issues in Malaysia, (iii) opportunities and risks of generative AI, and (iv) the proposed Sharīʿah -compliant conceptual framework. The fifth and final section offers a conclusion and recommendations , highlighting the