ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A DIGITAL WAKIL: A SHARIAH EVALUATION OF WAKALAH IN ISLAMIC FINTECH AND E-WALLET SERVICES

Abstract

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into Islamic financial services raises a pressing question: can AI qualify as a legitimate wakil (agent) under the Shariah contract of wakalah? Traditionally, wakalah is grounded on trust, accountability and ethical representation qualities that may seem incompatible with autonomous, non-human systems. As AI is increasingly applied in robo-advisory platforms, e-wallets and automated Shariah screening, it becomes essential to evaluate whether these technologies comply with Islamic legal and ethical requirements. This study employs a qualitative, library-based method to examine the viability of AI acting as a wakil within the framework of Shariah. Drawing on recent scholarly works, fatawa and institutional reports (2021–2025), the paper analyses how AI’s agency functions align with classical and contemporary understandings of wakalah. Findings indicate that AI may assume an agency like role under strict Shariah parameters specifically where human supervision, algorithmic transparency and accountability mechanisms are ensured. Nevertheless, the risks of diminished responsibility and interpretative ambiguity remain. The paper concludes that while AI enhances efficiency and accessibility in Islamic finance, its adoption as a wakil requires continuous human oversight to safeguard Shariah integrity and client confidence.