Artificial Intelligence and Islamic Law in Finance:

Assessing ChatGPT’s Responses to Public Doubts on Riba

Fauzul Hanif Noor Athief

Imron Mawardi

Khoirunufus Assholihah

Fahrudin Mukhlis

Muhamad Subhi Apriantoro

 

Abstract: The current advancement in technology matches the increasing interest in self-learning. This applies to all fields of study, including Islamic law. However, Islamic law has its unique approach to learning, which requires guided study rather than self-learning. This research aims to investigate ChatGPT, one of the latest technologies, as a tool for laypeople to self-educate on religious studies topics. Specifically, this study examines ChatGPT's ability to provide accurate and comprehensive responses to inquiries about the concept of riba (usury or interest), which is the cornerstone of Islamic financial principles. Utilising a qualitative approach and content analysis methodology, this study analyses ChatGPT's responses to queries sourced from the "Komunitas Anti Riba" (Anti-Riba Community) Facebook group, categorising them based on similarity and assessing their alignment with established Islamic finance literature. The findings reveal that while ChatGPT demonstrates moderate accuracy in answering questions (3.15 out of 5), its adequacy score of 2.69 indicates limitations in providing comprehensive insights into Islamic finance principles. Consequently, relying solely on ChatGPT for religious education is not recommended, as it could potentially provide incomplete or inaccurate information that undermines individuals' faith and beliefs. This study provides insight into the extent to which Artificial Intelligence can provide reliable information to its users in the field of religious studies. It also underscores the importance of consulting qualified experts and authoritative sources for a thorough understanding of religious principles.