In India, Anwar calls on Muslim scholars to master AI while safeguarding Islamic faith and moral values

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech during the ‘Gathering of Honour Prime Minister Malaysia’ and religious knowledge session at Markazu Saquafathi Sunniya, also known as Jamia Markaz, in Keralam September 13, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Monday, 14 Sep 2026 9:26 AM MYT

KERALAM (INDIA), Sept 14 — The Muslim world must embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies while ensuring that faith, moral values and Islamic heritage remain firmly preserved, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking before around 2,000 attendees, including Islamic scholars and students, Anwar said Muslim scholars and societies could not afford to remain detached from the rapid development of AI and modern technology, as a lack of knowledge and understanding could leave them vulnerable to external influences.

“Without knowledge, we will fail. Without understanding AI, we will be colonised and will just become weapons, weaponised by the foreign forces to weaken our resolve,” he said in his speech at the “Gathering of Honour for the Prime Minister of Malaysia” event at Markazu Saquafathi Sunniya, also known as Jamia Markaz, in Calicut here last night.

He said the challenge facing Muslim societies was not merely to acquire knowledge and expertise in AI, but also to ensure that technological advancement was guided by faith and moral values.

The Prime Minister said this was particularly important as technology was not value-neutral and could influence the values, ethics and beliefs of society if not approached carefully.

Anwar also stressed the importance of preserving the turath (Islamic scholarly heritage), saying the Muslim world should not lose sight of the Quran, Sunnah and works of prominent Islamic scholars while embracing new knowledge and technology.

The Prime Minister said Islamic heritage demonstrated the importance of tolerance, wisdom and constructive engagement, including in relations between Muslims and followers of other faiths.

He pointed out that the Malaysia Madani approach was rooted in the values of humanity, respect and friendship among people of different races and religions, while remaining firmly grounded in the country’s Islamic faith and moral framework.

On his visit to Keralam, Anwar said the state had deep historical ties with the Malay world, and had played an important role in the spread of Islam and Islamic scholarship across the Malay Archipelago, including Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the southern Philippines.

He also expressed appreciation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating his visit to Keralam, which was made in conjunction with his official visit to India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

Anwar said he also looked forward to meeting Keralam Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan and members of the state Cabinet to discuss ways to further strengthen relations between Malaysia and Keralam.

He also expressed appreciation to the Keralam state authorities, security personnel, officials and others involved in facilitating his visit to Jamia Markaz, saying their cooperation, including that of non-Muslims, demonstrated the importance of mutual respect and working together towards a common objective.

Earlier, Anwar received the inaugural Sheikh Abu Bakar Foundation Excellence Award in recognition of his more than five decades of public service and contributions to education, Islamic scholarship, institutional development, international dialogue and human well-being. — Bernama