Content Analysis of AI’s Responses to Family-Related Religious Questions: A Comparative Study with the Fatwas of the Supreme Council of Religious Affairs

This study aims to put forward a content analysis of the responses provided by artificial intelligence (AI) to family-themed religious questions and examine the extent to which these responses align with the fatwas issued by the Supreme Council of Religious Affairs of the Presidency of Religious Affairs. The family plays a central role in the transmission of religious values, and Islam offers comprehensive principles concerning both the pre- and post-marital periods. In this context, individuals may encounter various religious issues related to family life. In addition to the Supreme Council of Religious Affairs—recognized as the highest religious authority—AI tools such as ChatGPT have emerged as easily accessible sources of information. However, current literature lacks systematic studies that examine the content alignment between AI-generated religious responses and institutional fatwas. This study seeks to fill this gap by revealing the capabilities and limitations of AI in delivering religious information. The research evaluates 84 AI-generated responses on family-related religious issues through a comparative content analysis in qualitative research design with the Council’s fatwas. This method identifies both textual overlaps and the positioning of AI responses in terms of jurisprudential and sectarian sensitivity. The results indicate that 63% of the responses fully align with the fatwas, 20.2% show partial alignment, and 16.7% do not align. While the AI-generated responses are fast and accessible, it has revealed shortcomings, particularly on issues involving sectarian differences. The study assesses the potential and risks of ChatGPT through criteria such as jurisprudential grounding, sectarian sensitivity, clarity of expression, topical relevance, and moral emphasis. It also offers recommendations concerning the ethical barriers, reliability, and limitations of using AI in religious contexts.