Balancing Artificial Intelligence Deployment with Sharia Objectives and Ethical Principles in the Administrative Work of the Islamic Affairs Department in the Emirate of Sharjah

This study investigates the balance between deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and adhering to Sharia objectives (Maqasid al-Shariah) and ethical principles within the administrative framework of the Islamic Affairs Department in the Emirate of Sharjah. It aims to identify potential opportunities for integrating smart technologies into administrative operations while establishing the religious and ethical controls governing their deployment. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical methodology, the paper examines key concepts surrounding AI and its administrative applications, analyzing relevant Sharia objectives alongside institutional governance requirements. The study addresses potential areas for AI utilization including administrative transaction processing, human resource management, public service enhancement, and decision-support systems while evaluating associated challenges such as data protection, privacy preservation, algorithmic bias, and administrative liability. The findings reveal that achieving operational efficiency must not compromise Sharia principles or ethical values. Responsible AI utilization requires maintaining continuous human oversight (human-in-the-loop) and adhering to the core tenets of justice, transparency, integrity, and rights protection. Furthermore, the study underscores the necessity of integrating technical, administrative, and Sharia expertise to ensure the safety and compliance of smart applications. The paper recommends establishing an institutional framework for AI governance that incorporates risk classification, pre-deployment application assessments, periodic output audits, employee training, and enhanced awareness of Sharia and ethical standards. This framework aims to advance administrative operations, serve the public interest, and preserve the organizational mission and values of the Islamic Affairs Department, emphasizing a phased implementation model that prioritizes low-risk administrative uses to guarantee sustainable institutional improvement.