Dubai launches ‘world’s first’ AI-based fatwa-issuing service
VIRTUAL IFTA CAN CURRENTLY ANSWER OVER 200 QUESTIONS ON SALAH
Dubai yesterday launched Virtual Ifta, said to be the world’s first service using artificial intelligence (AI) to issue fatwas, or Islamic rulings on religious matters.
Instead of an Islamic scholar answering questions over the phone, the AI-powered Virtual Ifta replies to live questions on internet chat.
At the moment, it is only able to answer around 205 questions related to salah, or prayer, Tariq Al Emadi, Head of Fatwa Section, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), told Gulf News on Tuesday.
Three-day show
His comments came during the official launch of Virtual Ifta by IACAD at The Boulevard, Emirates Towers, where a three-day exhibition has been set up for visitors to experience Virtual Ifta. A video is also being played at the exhibition, narrating the evolution of issuing fatwas – from face-to-face meetings, to writings, phone, video conferencing, email, website, and now AI.
Pilot phase
In the first pilot phase, the AI service is available – in Arabic and English – through the IACAD website, www. iacad.gov.ae, but the next phase will include WhatsApp and cover more topics, such as fasting, purity and ablution, and financial matters, among others, Al Emadi said. More languages will also be added in the future.
Virtual Ifta, which operates 24/7, has been introduced in line with Dubai 10X, a government
programme to keep Dubai 10 years ahead of other cities in delivering public services using innovation to solve issues.
Virtual Ifta is accessible to anyone, anywhere, at any time through the IACAD website and will soon also be available through the free-to-download smart app ‘IACAD’ on Apple store and Google Play Store.
The launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of
IACAD’s establishment. In the future, people will be able to hear audio replies of Virtual Ifta in addition to written responses, Al Emadi said. Users can frame their questions as they please, he added.
“Virtual Ifta will understand you, but if it’s not sure what you’re asking, it will give you a few options — do you mean this or do you mean that — to make sure you get the relevant response,” Al Emadi said.
The ceremony was attended by Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, and senior officials of IACAD, including Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Director of IFTA Department; Buti Abdullah Mohammad Al Jumairi, Executive Director Corporate Support; Ahmad Darwish Saif Al Muhairi; Chief Executive of Charitable, among others.