The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence Research in Islamic Education: A Bibliometric Review

Abstract

The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has driven significant transformation across various fields of education, including Islamic education. The rising number of scholarly publications on AI indicates that this technology is not only being utilized to enhance learning effectiveness but is also raising strategic issues regarding ethics, governance, and the integration of Islamic values. This study aims to analyze the developments, trends, intellectual structure, and research trajectory concerning AI in Islamic education using a bibliometric approach. The study employs bibliometric analysis, utilizing data sourced from Google Scholar based on the keywords "Artificial Intelligence" and "Islamic Education" for the period 2020–2026. A total of 100 publications were analyzed using *Publish or Perish* (PoP) software to derive bibliometric indicators, and VOSviewer to map collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution (overlay visualization), and research density (density visualization). The results indicate a significant increase in publications regarding AI in Islamic education, amassing a total of 1,225 citations, an h-index of 19, and a g-index of 32, reflecting the field's high academic impact. Visualization analysis reveals that keywords such as "Indonesia," "innovation," "adoption," "utilization," "ethics," and "Islamic Religious Education" are the most dominant themes; meanwhile, recent research has begun to shift toward issues such as ethical challenges, Islamic AI ethics, bibliometric analysis, and the integration of AI with *maqāṣid al-syarī'ah* (objectives of Sharia) principles. These findings demonstrate that research on AI in Islamic education has evolved from a focus on technological implementation toward a more comprehensive approach that integrates pedagogical, ethical, and governance aspects with Islamic values. The study concludes that the future of Islamic education necessitates the development of an AI-based educational ecosystem (Smart Islamic Education Ecosystem) capable of balancing technological innovation, digital literacy, adaptive learning, and Islamic values. Future research is encouraged to develop models for Islamic AI ethics, Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), and AI governance that support the development of learners' character, spirituality, and competitiveness in the digital era.