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Vol. 23 No. 1 (2026)
Educational Review: International Journal

Articles

The Ontological Turn in Islamic Education: Navigating AI Integration Without Compromising Theological Foundations

Published 2026-07-12

  • Husni Husni
    • ,
  • Nisa Nurjanah

Husni Husni
Darussalam Institute for Islamic Studies (IAID), Ciamis-Indonesia

Nisa Nurjanah
Private Ibtidaiyah Madrasah, Al-Fadliliyah, Ciamis-Indonesia

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies presents both unprecedented opportunities and profound challenges for Islamic education. Central to this discourse is the question of whether Islamic educational ontology—its foundational understanding of knowledge, being, and pedagogy—can accommodate AI without compromising its theological and philosophical integrity. This article conducts a comprehensive systematic literature review to explore frameworks, challenges, and future directions for integrating AI into Islamic education while preserving its ontological foundations rooted in Tawhid, Fitrah, and the integration of Naqli (revealed) and Aqli (rational) knowledge. Drawing upon 39 peer-reviewed sources, the study identifies and synthesizes five key frameworks: the SEI-CHAT Framework, Shariah-Aligned AI Governance, Legal-Sharia Educational Framework, Ontology-Based Knowledge Representation, and Hybrid AI-Human Teaching Models. The findings reveal that while AI demonstrates significant potential in enhancing cognitive and psychomotor learning domains, its application in affective, moral, and spiritual domains remains inherently limited, necessitating hybrid human-AI approaches. The study proposes design principles for theologically sound AI educational ontologies, including transparency, explainability, preservation of interpretive authority, and reflection of intra-Islamic diversity. This article concludes that the ontological turn in Islamic education requires a balanced, ethically vigilant, and human-centered approach that embraces technological innovation while steadfastly maintaining theological authenticity and human stewardship.

Keywords

Islamic educational; Islamic educational philosophy; Islamic educational science

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