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Paper short abstract

Analysis of Islamic LLMs such as Sheikh GPT shows they begin with strict guidance but soften as dialogue unfolds revealing how generic AI architectures shape mediated encounters of dispensing religious authority.

Paper long abstract

This paper examines the emerging landscape of Islamic large language models (LLMs), focusing on systems such as "Sheikh GPT" that explicitly position themselves as providers of religious guidance. Drawing on an original dataset generated through systematically querying several Islamic LLMs, the study explores how these systems construct authority, negotiate doctrinal boundaries, and perform "Islamic" expertise through interaction. Preliminary analysis reveals a striking pattern: while these models initially present themselves as strict, rule‑oriented interpreters of Islamic norms - often foregrounding conservative positions and cautionary language - their responses tend to soften over the course of an exchange. This shift manifests in more contextualized, conciliatory, and flexible formulations, mirroring the adaptive conversational strategies characteristic of mainstream, non‑religious LLMs. The paper argues that this oscillation between rigidity and accommodation reflects the underlying tension between the generic architectures and training logics of contemporary LLMs and the culturally specific expectations attached to religious authority. Rather than producing distinctly Islamic epistemologies, these systems reproduce the generic tendencies of large‑scale language models - such as hedging, balancing, and avoiding definitive claims - while layering Islamic terminology and moral framing on top. By analysing these dynamics, the paper contributes to broader debates on machine‑mediated religious authority, the performativity of expertise in AI systems, and the socio‑technical imaginaries shaping the development of faith‑aligned digital agents. The findings highlight both the promise and the limitations of Islamic LLMs as emerging actors in contemporary religious life, raising questions about authenticity, trust, and the future of mediated metahuman guidance.