From Dhul-Qarnayn to AI: The Dimensions of the Ethical Crisis in Modern Science
The timeless Quranic narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn in Surat Al-Kahf offers a profound framework for understanding the essential relationship between ethics and scientific empowerment. Commenting on the verse, “We established his power in the land, and gave him the means to achieve everything.” (18:84), scholars identify these “ways” as comprehensive means encompassing intellect, knowledge, faith, physical strength, wealth, and strategic governance.
When analyzed through a modern lens, this narrative reveals five core dimensions where moral responsibility must govern technological and scientific advancement.
The first dimension is power to serve justice, not tyranny. Dhul-Qarnayn possessed vast scientific and logistical resources, yet he never utilized them for tyranny. Instead, he deployed his capabilities to establish justice, aid vulnerable communities, and deter aggression. He maintained a strict ethical distinction between oppressors—who faced just punishment—and those who believed and acted righteously, promising the latter reward and ease.
The second dimension is the rejection of exploitation and monetization of aid. Despite encountering a vulnerable society in desperate need of his engineering expertise, Dhul-Qarnayn refused to exploit their plight for material or financial gain. Declining their offer of tribute he declared, “The power my Lord has given me is better than any tribute.” (18:95). Instead of financial compensation, he fostered community empowerment, asking only for their physical labor to complete the defensive barrier.
The third dimension is humility over intellectual arrogance. He remained entirely immune to the hubris often triggered by vast knowledge and capability. He explicitly attributed his technological prowess to divine grace rather than personal genius, grounding his achievements in spiritual humility by stating, “That in which my Lord has established me is better.”
The fourth dimension is sincerity and fostering spiritual independence. In executing an engineering marvel that was highly advanced for his era, Dhul-Qarnayn acted with absolute sincerity toward God. Upon completing the mega-project, he deflected praise from himself, redirecting the community’s gratitude toward the Creator by declaring, “This is a mercy from my Lord.” (18:98), thereby teaching them to rely on divine grace rather than human icons.
The fifth dimension is transparency and the impermanence of material achievements. Demonstrating absolute honesty, he explicitly reminded the community that no technological solution is eternal. By stating, “But when my Lord’s promise is fulfilled, He will raze this barrier to the ground: my Lord’s promise always comes true.” (18:98), he warned them against absolute dependency on material infrastructure, urging them to continually develop their own capacities for self-protection since material structures inevitably fade.
The Crisis of Modern Science Without Morals: A Critical Review of the Pharma Industry, AI, and Al-Azhar’s Global Warnings
The profound ethical principles derived from the Quranic narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn dictate that anyone possessing knowledge, technology, or resources must subject them to a clear moral framework. True advancement must serve the greater good, deter injustice, protect the vulnerable, and foster humility and sincerity. In this ideal framework, science acts as an instrument of mercy, characterized by absolute transparency regarding both its positive and negative impacts.
Regrettably, this ethical anchor is conspicuously absent in today’s materialistic, profit-driven world. Driven by greed and global hegemony, modern corporate and technological landscapes present striking contractions to these values.
The pharmaceutical monopoly exemplifies this breakdown. While scientific research is undeniably costly, the hyper-inflated profits yielded by global pharmaceutical sales far outweigh production costs. Experts warn that major corporations often suppress or bypass radical medical breakthroughs that eliminate chronic diseases at their roots, favoring instead continuous, lifelong treatments to secure perpetual profit streams.
The artificial intelligence ethical vacuum presents another severe failure. In the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the core values of justice, sincerity, and consumer protection are being systematically dismantled. Personal data, daily habits, and intimate privacy are routinely harvested and surrendered to AI systems, transforming individuals into commodities for hyper-consumerist exploitation.
This compounding crisis was forcefully addressed by His Eminence, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Tayyeb, during his recent high-profile reception of the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed. Marking the historic selection of Al-Azhar to launch the UN Initiative on AI and Sustainable Development, the Grand Imam warned that the unchecked escalation of AI technologies poses an existential threat to human and religious values. He outlined three urgent warnings.
The first warning concerns the erosion of human dignity, where the absence of a governing moral framework risks driving humanity toward a dark future where human dignity is eroded, and the foundational tenets of divine messages are systematically dissolved.
The second warning centers on the critical question of governance, asking who will regulate this rapid technological evolution, and upon which system of ethics and values will its core foundation be built.
The third warning targets monopolies of power and control, noting that if left in the hands of an exclusive, powerful minority, technology risks transforming into a ruthless tool of global subjugation rather than serving as a medium for human welfare.
The Three Pillars of Techno-Ethics
The vital nexus between science and ethics is defined by three indispensable dimensions.
The methodological dimension demands unyielding honesty in scientific outcomes and prohibits the exploitation of vulnerable populations during research.
The applied dimension ensures that discoveries and innovations are deployed globally to serve humanity without prejudice or discrimination.
The teleological, goal-oriented dimension infuses science with a humanistic purpose, anchoring it as a force for global construction rather than destruction.
Ultimately, ethics are not an obstacle to scientific discovery; they are the essential compass that ensures its survival in the service of humanity. Without it, science inevitably mutates into an engine of devastation and systemic malice.
