Journal of Nahdlatul Ulama Studies
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Nahdlatul Ulama Studies

Artificial Intelligence as Wasilah of Digital Khidmah: Nahdlatul Ulama Actors' Responses to Da'wah and Literacy

Wahyu Khoiruzzaman (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kudus)
Ilmi Hidayati (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kudus)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Jul 2026

Abstract

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially generative AI and large language models (LLMs), has transformed the ways people search for, produce, and circulate religious knowledge. In the context of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), AI offers opportunities for strengthening digital da'wah, religious literacy, and organizational services, yet it also raises serious questions about epistemic validity, religious authority, and the continuity of sanad in Islamic learning. This article analyzes how NU actors respond to AI in relation to da'wah, religious literacy, and digital khidmah. It employs a descriptive qualitative and exploratory approach based on literature review, digital observation, and limited interviews with NU actors concerned with media and digital transformation. The data were analyzed thematically by focusing on three issues: AI as a tool for digital service, the epistemic risks of AI-generated religious answers, and the ethical importance of sanad, tabayyun, and human authority. The article argues that AI should be positioned as a wasilah for digital khidmah, rather than a substitute for ulama, kiai, pesantren, or bahtsul masail. Its contribution lies in formulating an NU-based ethical reading of AI that combines technological adaptation with the preservation of religious knowledge, scholarly authority, source credibility, and pesantren-based ethics.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jnus

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Education Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Nahdlatul Ulama Studies publishes articles on Nahdlatul Ulama topics from various perspectives, both in literary to NU from the perspective of law, fiqh, politics, culture, education, ideology, boarding schools, economics, NU leaders thoughts and other perspectives related to Nahdlatul ...