Al-Ghazali’s principle of trust (Amanah) as a framework for ethical AI governance in organizations

Abstract

In a technology-driven, materialistic world, the need for timeless wisdom and spiritual-moral values becomes increasingly evident. This paper aims to provide a solid moral foundation for modern ethical frameworks of AI governance by drawing on the prominent Muslim theologian and philosopher, Al-Ghazali’s principle of Amanah in ethical leadership as a tool to establish trust in AI systems and technologies. The research is theoretical and qualitative, utilizing secondary data from journal articles and books. Through a literature review and analysis, the study explores the role of Al-Ghazali’s teachings in shaping ethical AI governance through ethical leadership. The findings reveal that incorporating Amanah, a core trait of ethical leadership from an Islamic perspective, into AI governance frameworks can effectively balance spiritual values with technological advancements. This approach offers a pathway to achieving business goals in a more humanistic, ethical, and sustainable manner. This theoretical paper has some limitations, primarily in lacking empirical evidence and focusing only on one principle of Al-Ghazali’s ethical legacy; therefore, a more comprehensive study would help to enrich the research with empirical evidence and practical implications.