Format: Interactive, hands-on — participants must bring a laptop
Note: AI is moving extremely rapidly with changes on a weekly basis. This syllabus will be adapted as new approaches and technologies develop between now and the workshop date.Description
This hands-on workshop empowers Imams to integrate cutting-edge AI tools into their daily work—from khutbah preparation and community outreach to research, translation, and content creation. Participants will explore trusted tools, learn to spot misinformation, and develop a customized plan to responsibly use AI in Islamic settings. Laptop required; practical activities throughout.Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will:- Understand the major developments in AI over the last 3 years and why they are unprecedented.
- Explore practical AI tools for research, education, and community engagement.
- Learn how to use AI to enhance content creation, translation, and accessibility.
- Identify and verify AI-generated Islamic content to avoid misinformation.
- Develop a personalized plan to integrate AI tools into daily responsibilities.
Session Outline:
Session 1: Understanding AI's Potential for Islamic Leadership- What is AI really doing when it gives an answer?
- What AI is good at—and what it's not
- Key terminology: prompt engineering, hallucination, tokens, and other essential concepts
- Overview of key AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and specialized Islamic tools)
- Debunking fears and misconceptions
- Examples of AI in masjid, educational, and nonprofit settings
- AI ethics considerations from an Islamic perspective
- Brainstorming and drafting khutbah topics and outlines (using various AI assistants)
- Transforming content across different formats (speech to text, text to visuals)
- Using AI to generate visual aids (e.g., Canva Assistant for infographics, Gamma for slides)
- Creating engagement materials (quizzes, worksheets, flashcards) for Islamic studies
- Hands-on activity: Create a piece of content and transform it into multiple formats
- Summarizing and analyzing Islamic texts and scholarly works
- Using specialized Islamic AI tools (usul.ai and ansari.chat) for searching information
- Using AI to assist in preparing fatawa (with appropriate verification)
- Implementing Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) for accurate Islamic content
- Tools for organizing and accessing Islamic knowledge resources
- Interactive exercise: Build a mini-knowledge base with proper citations
- Using AI translation tools to serve diverse communities
- Creating multilingual resources for community programs
- Making Islamic content accessible to different age groups and learning styles
- Voice interfaces and accessibility features for those with disabilities
- Group activity: Develop a multilingual resource for a community event
- Writing effective newsletters, announcements, and social media posts
- Using AI for marketing mosque events and programs
- Voice and text-based assistants (ansari.chat) for managing masjid workflows
- Collecting and analyzing community feedback via AI-powered surveys
- Demonstration: Creating compelling promotional materials for community programs
- Understanding AI hallucinations and their risks
- Red flags: signs that AI might be inaccurate on Islamic topics
- How to systematically verify Islamic content (hadith, tafsir, fiqh references)
- Building verification workflows for AI-generated content
- Group exercise: Evaluating the authenticity of AI-generated Islamic content
- Creating engaging video content with Sora and Runway
- Generating and editing images with Midjourney, Recraft, and Canva Assistant
- Creating podcasts and audio content with NotebookLM
- Transcription tools for converting speeches and khutbahs to text
- Repurposing content across multiple media formats
- Hands-on demonstration: From idea to multimedia package
- Using AI creatively to reach and engage tech-savvy youth
- Chatbots, storytelling tools, and gamified learning for Islamic content
- Addressing youth questions about faith through AI assistants
- Creating a personal AI integration plan tailored to your masjid or educational setting
- Collaborative discussion: Sharing implementation ideas and addressing challenges
Workshop Materials Provided:
- Comprehensive guide to AI tools (overview of leading AI assistants, specialized Islamic tools, multimedia creation tools)
- Templates for content transformation workflows
- Verification checklists for Islamic content
- Sample prompts optimized for Islamic contexts
- Resource list for continued learning and updates
Participant Requirements:
- Laptop required (tablets/phones not sufficient for full participation)
- Basic comfort with using a web browser and typing
- Optional: Set up free accounts for recommended AI tools in advance (list will be provided)
Post-Workshop Support:
- Access to workshop materials and recordings
- Online community for continuing discussions and sharing best practices
- Access to domain experts to answer questions about implementation and specific use cases
