Kazakhstan to Launch AI-Powered Imam App

Kazakhstan’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims (DUMK) is set to integrate artificial intelligence into religious practice with the launch of Imam AI, a mobile application designed to provide believers with instant, Sharia-compliant answers to religious questions. The initiative aims to ease the burden on clergy and offer verified religious guidance in a digital format. According to DUMK, the adoption of AI reflects growing public demand for fast and reliable religious information. “In line with modern requirements, we need to systematically introduce the capabilities of artificial intelligence into the religious sphere,” the organization stated in a post on the muftyatkz Instagram page. The Imam AI app will be built on AI technology and will draw from authenticated sources of Islamic knowledge. Supreme Mufti Nauryzbay Kazhy Taganuly stated that the platform would comply fully with Sharia law while providing accessible, on-demand religious consultations. This development is part of a broader effort to digitally transform religious institutions in Kazakhstan. The country has already begun incorporating AI into public administration, notably with the introduction of SKAI, a neural network based on a national language model used in state and quasi-state management. As a further step, DUMK plans to draft a Digital Development Concept for 2026-2028, which will set priorities for the digitalization of religious activities. The Supreme Mufti stressed that failing to adapt to technological change means falling behind the needs of contemporary society. “We are living in an era of technology and digital opportunity. Our responsibility is the systematic and widespread use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence in religious practice, in full accordance with Sharia law,” Taganuly noted. Another key initiative involves the creation of an Islamic finance sector under DUMK. The Mufti stated that growing religious awareness and a desire for ethical earnings have fueled demand for financial products that align with Islamic principles. The new sector will offer Sharia reviews of financial instruments and issue fatwas related to leasing, insurance, investments, bonds, digital assets, and electronic payment systems. Together, the launch of Imam AI and the institutionalization of Islamic finance mark a broader convergence of religion, technology, and economics in Kazakhstan. A recent joint report by the Eurasian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank Institute, and the London Stock Exchange forecasts steady growth in Islamic finance across Central Asia. For Kazakhstan, the digitalization of the religious sphere is becoming a key component of its broader modernization agenda, positioning AI not as a novelty but as a practical tool for improving access and meeting evolving societal expectations.