Islam, AI, and the Future of Humanity
The syllabus.
Course Description
This introductory course examines how emerging technologies are transforming our understanding of knowledge, ethics, intelligence, and the very notion of what it means to be human. By exploring the intersections of Islamic thought, the philosophy of technology, and contemporary debates on AI, the course offers a foundational framework for engaging critically and ethically with technological change. Topics include the ethical imperative to prioritize moral human development over the pursuit of moral AI, the contested possibility of AI consciousness, and the implications of viewing AI as either tools, collaborators, or reflective mirrors of human desires and limitations. We will also consider the spiritual and ethical responsibilities involved in shaping the future of AI, drawing on insights from Islamic philosophy and current scientific discourse.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the foundational assumptions about mind, consciousness, and language that underlie contemporary AI, and explain how these assumptions shape modern understandings of intelligence.
- Explain why AI represents the culmination of the modern scientific spirit—especially Galileo’s vision of quantifying reality—and why studying AI is essential for understanding the technological foundations of the modern world.
- Critically evaluate the technological worldview, cultural ideologies, and Silicon Valley values that drive the development and global influence of AI. Also, examine how AI reflects deeper cultural transformations: quantification of meaning, commodification of knowledge, automation of cognition.
- Understand Islamic conceptions of knowledge, consciousness, and intelligence to articulate alternative frameworks for navigating the future of humanity in the age of machine learning.
- Demonstrate how viewing AI through an Islamic intellectual lens can illuminate new pathways for responding to contemporary challenges and rethinking human identity, agency, and responsibility.
Week 1 — January 9
Topic: Introduction: AI, Humanity, and Islamic Perspectives
Readings:
- Chaudhary, “Islam and Artificial Intelligence.”
- Russell and Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, 4e, Ch. 1.
- Wooldridge, Brief History of Artificial Intelligence, selections.
- Donnelly, Descent of Artificial Intelligence, Introduction and Ch. 1.
Supplementary Readings:
- Nilsson, The Quest for Artificial Intelligence.
- Crawford, Atlas of AI.
- Domingos, The Master Algorithm.
- LeCun, Bengio, and Hinton, “Deep Learning for AI.”
- Dick, “Artificial Intelligence.”
Lecture and Discussion:
- History and Development of AI
- What are the foundational assumptions about mind, consciousness, and language that underlie contemporary AI?
Week 2 — January 16
Topic: Moral AI or Moral Human Beings?
Readings:
- Véliz, “Moral Zombies: Why Algorithms are not Moral Agents.”
- Bostrom, “Ethical Issues in Advanced Artificial Intelligence.”
- Faruque, “Opening Pandora’s Box: AI and Its Ethical Dilemmas”
- Qur’anic passages on moral agency
Supplementary Readings:
- Inloes, “The Golem, the Djinni, and ChatGPT: Artificial Intelligence and the Islamicate Occult Sciences.”
- Bostrom, Superintelligence.
Lecture and Discussion:
- Can we program morality into machines?
- Islamic ethics: cultivating the self vs. engineering behavior
Week 3 — January 23
Topic: Consciousness: Islamic and Scientific Views
Readings:
- Faruque, Sculpting the Self, selections.
- Faruque, “AI versus Human Consciousness.”
- Strawson, “The Consciousness Deniers.”
- Grève and Xiaoyue, “Can Machines Be Conscious?”
Supplementary Readings:
- Russell and Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, 4e, Ch. 28.
- Wooldridge, Brief History of Artificial Intelligence, Ch. 9.
Lecture and Discussion:
- What is consciousness?
- Are we projecting human qualities onto machines?
- AI becoming conscious or minds becoming machines?
Week 4 — January 30
Topic: Knowledge and Intelligence: Islamic and Scientific Views
Readings:
- Yazdi, Principles of Epistemology in Islamic Philosophy, selections.
- Gottfredson, “Mainstream Science on Intelligence.”
- McCarthy, “What Is Artificial Intelligence?”
Supplementary Readings:
- Russell and Norvig, Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, 4e, Ch. 10.
- Kalin, Knowledge in Later Islamic Philosophy.
- Azadpur, Analytic Philosophy and Avicenna.
- Chomsky, “The False Promise of ChatGPT.”
Lecture and Discussion:
- Is “knowledge” the same as “information?”
- Is “intelligence” natural or artificial?
- Defining the term “human-level.”
Week 5 — February 6
Topic: AI and Human Identity: Tools, Mirrors, or Partners?
Readings:
- Fuchs, “Narcissistic Depressive Technoscience.”
- Alang, “AI Is a False God: The Real Threat with Super Intelligence is Falling Prey to the Hype.”
Lecture and Discussion:
- Are LLMs tools, colleagues, or mirrors?
- The dangers of anthropomorphizing AI
Week 6 — February 13
Topic: Reflections and Futures: Toward a Spiritually Responsible Technology
Readings:
- Faruque, “Immortality through AI?: Transhumanism, Islamic Philosophy, and the Quest for Spiritual Machines.”
- Faruque, “We are Not Our Brains: How Poets and Philosophers Saw the Immaterial Life of the Self.”
Supplementary Readings:
- Zuboff, Age of Surveillance Capitalism.
- Bostrom, Deep Utopia.
- Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Nearer.
Lecture and Discussion:
- How will AI shape our future?
- What does it mean to remain truly human and flourish in the age of AI?
A working command of the vocabulary of Islamic metaphysics — wujūd, māhiyya, the gradation of being — used precisely, not loosely.
The capacity to read primary texts of Ibn Sīnā and Mullā Ṣadrā with comprehension rather than reverence alone.
An understanding of why the tradition treats metaphysics as the science of realities — and what that claim asks of the knower.
Direct exchange with Professor Nasr in open Q&A after every session — the part no book can replace.
Muhammad Faruque is a scholar of Islamic philosophy, Sufism, environmental humanities, and global philosophy whose work explores the relationship between selfhood, consciousness, and technology in the modern world. Bridging Islamic intellectual traditions with contemporary philosophical and civilizational questions, his scholarship addresses climate change, AI, metaphysics, and the crisis of meaning in late modernity. At Tokat, he teaches the philosophical and contemplative foundations necessary for rethinking the human condition in an age of technological and ecological transformation.
In their own words.
The most valuable aspect of the course was:
“Discovering that Islam is so much deeper than I thought it was. I've been searching for the longest time for something within Islam that was intellectually satisfying… I really hope you'll do more of these courses!”
“Prof. Rustom, with his cheerful manner and fluent expression, made even difficult concepts understandable in simple language.”
"The most valuable aspect of the course for me was understanding how Islamic teachings integrate spiritual, emotional, and physical healing. It helped me see health not just as a medical condition, but as a holistic balance rooted in faith, ethics, and compassion."
“Studying with Professor Chittick was deeply transformative and an immense privilege.”
“This was a wonderful, intellectually stimulating course! I especially appreciated the interactions with other students and Dr. Faruque’s responses to my questions, as well as the care taken to accurately present alternative viewpoints.”
The thing I liked about this most was:
“Its profound exploration of the spiritual and intellectual foundations of reality in Islam—particularly how metaphysical principles connect the Divine, cosmos, and human soul.”
“Very pleasurable to hear God spoken of in the context of an academic frame.”
"Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for the positive influence you've had in my life and the lives of those around me. Your lectures continue to inspire me to explore alternative paths and to support others in their healing journeys."
“It was a great honor and privilege for me to be able to attend Professor Chittick’s class. His mastery and knowledge of the subject of cosmology made the class very interesting.”
Professor Faruque’s course marked a shift from viewing AI as a technical challenge to an ontological one. In an era where “Dataism” threatens to reduce the human soul to a series of algorithms, this course provided a vital intellectual defense of the anthropocosmic self. Professor Faruque brilliantly articulated that while AI can process information, it cannot embody knowledge as a “mode of being.”
“The most valuable aspect of this course for me was gaining a deeper understanding of the foundations and significance of Muslim metaphysics.”
"The course provided a powerful argument in support of alternative healing through holistically making the learners identify with the entirety of life than just material and physical form."
“I felt transported to a different realm during every class, which almost never happens in an academic course. My heart and intellect were both fully engaged. This was due to Professor Chittick's deep knowledge, mastery/love for the subject, and exceptional skills as an orator.”
“This course needs to be translated into other languages spoken in the Muslim world and made more accessible to those audiences.”
“I’m very grateful to attend his astonishing lectures this fall initiated by the Tokat Institute. Barakallah.”
“I have greatly benefited from the alternative approaches to healing and well-being that your lectures provide. Your insights have opened my eyes to the deeper connections between mind, body, and spirit.”
“The most valuable aspect of this course was that Professor Chittick presented Islamic cosmology on its own terms rather than through a diluted Western philosophical lens.”
“This course helped me find answers to many questions that we need to address now and in the near future. Dr. Faruque delivered the course in a highly credible and professional manner.”
“Clarified my understanding of what Islamic metaphysics is, which I hadn’t understood, and the destructive influence of empiricism and related modern ideas/mindsets. This is a very freeing thing!”
“Very happy with the course and I hope there will be more similar courses in the future.”
“Dr. Chittick's presence and vast knowledge of the subject is invaluable.”
“The instructor’s openness to welcoming questions, critiques, and additions was what truly made the course engaging and valuable. The instructor's efforts and knowledge are undoubtedly appreciated.”
“The most valuable aspect of this course was the presence, wisdom, experiences, and discourses of beloved Mohammed Rustom. Following that is the amazing book he has written. What a gem. Great translations. Organized beautifully. The third aspect is the community of beloveds who joined, shared, and contributed with their presences and questions.”
“In this course Professor Chittick offered us a compact and stimulating presentation of Islamic cosmology. His lectures were well-informed and gave us a clear window into the basic concepts related to the field.”
“The themes covered, the resources (articles, books, and lecture slides) shared, and the thought-provoking lectures were all deeply enriching.”
“Absolutely amazing! please offer more of the same! Please!”
“The depth of reflection that was nurtured in the course was very helpful. An excellent course!”
“Your insights and scholarship have tremendously enriched my understanding of the subject. I have found your teaching style to be both informative and inspiring, and I appreciate the effort you put into making complex topics accessible.”
“The way the epistemic foundations of AI were expounded upon helped one see the trajectory of how we have arrived at this point, and how AI is a result and manifestation of this convoluted way of understanding consciousness, humanity, God, nature, and existence. I am grateful to Professor Faruque for sharing his views and perspectives on this topic, as well as his knowledge, which spans technology, religion, and spirituality.”
“I can’t overstate how amazing your class was and its impact on me. ‘Ayn Al-Qudāt is now a household name in our family. My oldest daughter and I would read passages from Inrushes of the Heart (incredible title), many of which are both beautiful and thought-provoking.”
“I would highly recommend it to others.”
