Shah alam: About 30 percent of mosques in Selangor currently utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies for their management, with the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) aiming to extend these practices to all mosques in the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MAIS secretary Dr Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini stated that the council, in collaboration with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), is working to digitalize mosque financial systems. This initiative aims to ensure systematic financial management, improve transparency in bookkeeping, and streamline documentation for audits. Some mosques have also independently digitized congregation data to enhance administrative processes, including zakat surveys, enabling more accurate and transparent information.

While the council's goal is to achieve 100 percent adoption, Dr Mohd Sabirin noted that the readiness of individual mosques to embrace the technology will vary. Mosques equipped with the necessary systems or basic infrastructure may adopt the technology more swiftly, particularly in urban areas where facilities are more accessible compared to rural regions.

Dr Mohd Sabirin highlighted that MAIS regularly offers free courses on digital financial management and bookkeeping to mosque management committees across districts. Additionally, MAIS has started using AI in its daily operations to standardize reporting and streamline information traditionally prepared through manual methods.

Meanwhile, Dr Md Rozalafri Johori, director of the 12th International Conference on Mosque, Zakat, and Waqf Management (IMAF), noted that the conference, organized by Masjid Al-Azhar of Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), featured 49 papers presented both online and in person. Participants from Qatar and Pakistan joined the conference virtually. The conference also addressed ethical considerations in the use of AI, particularly in managing Islamic institutions.

The conference resolutions will be first reviewed at the university level before being considered for broader implementation. Bernama TV was recognized as a Strategic Collaborative Media Partner at the conference's opening ceremony, with deputy editor-in-chief (News Service) Mohd Shukri Ishak accepting the recognition on behalf of Bernama.