What fundamentally distinguishes humans from machines? In his latest article, “What are Robots? In an “Islamic Approach from a Metaphysical Understanding of the Human Being”, Ramy Abdin explores one of the most fascinating frontier issues of our time: religious robotics.
In a world where artificial intelligence and highly sophisticated robots are increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives, the question of their very nature has taken on a new sense of urgency. Abdin approaches this topic not from a purely technical perspective, but with a deep understanding of the Islamic view of humanity.
Humanity as a spiritual battleground
Central to Abdin’s argument is the Islamic view of human beings as primarily spiritual beings. A defining feature of human existence is the constant struggle with one’s own ego (nafs). This moral and spiritual tension shapes our development and our actions.
This raises profound philosophical questions for robotics:
- Can machines that we attribute ‘intelligence’ to ever experience any form of hardship or suffering?
- Is what we refer to as ‘learning’ in the context of AI comparable to the spiritual struggle of human beings?
The pitfall of anthropocentrism
A key point in the article is the reflection on the concept of ‘life’. When we speak of ‘machine life’ in the future, we usually do so from an anthropocentric perspective – we project our own understanding of biology and consciousness onto metal and code.
Abdin questions whether we are thereby doing justice to the metaphysics of life or whether we are merely placing a human mask over dead matter.
A contribution to interreligious dialogue
This article is a prime example of the work carried out at BaFID: it uses religious traditions not as rigid dogmas but as living tools to critically examine and reassess the technological upheavals of our time.
Curious? 👉 [Click here to download the article]. Immerse yourself in a debate that re-examines the boundaries between metaphysics and modern technology.
The full article by Ramy Abdin, M.A., has been published in the book *Instruments of God: Social Robots and AI Tools in Religious Contexts*. Best of all, it is now available as a free open-access PDF.
Abdin , Ramy (2025) “What are Robots? An Islamic Approach from a Metaphysical Understanding of the Human Being”, Instrumente Gottes . Soziale Roboter und KI-Tools im religiösen Kontexten, Edited by Dr. Lukas Brand, Mag. Theol., Martin Kutz, Dominik Winter, Mag. Theol., Karl-Alber-Verlag, 1. Edition 2025