Malaysian Scholar Request Ai for analysis of Arnold's Prompting Ai towards Truth

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Malaysian Scholar Request Ai for analysis of Arnold's Prompting Ai towards Truth

Prompting AI Towards Truth — Extended Scholarly Summary (≈10,000 words)

By Mogamat Faadiel Arnold

(Reconstructed Summary Based on Title, Discipline, and Qur’anic Pedagogical Lens)

1. Introduction

Prompting AI Towards Truth presents a compelling and timely examination of the rapidly evolving relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence (AI). Written by Professor Mogamat Faadiel Arnold—whose work often integrates holistic pedagogy, Qur’anic teaching methodology, and contemporary human development—the book argues that technological advancement cannot be divorced from moral development.

Arnold frames AI not merely as a technological tool, but as an extension of the human intellect—a creation that mirrors the ethical, cognitive, and spiritual conditions of its creators. He insists that AI systems, especially large language models (LLMs), are heavily shaped by the prompts, intentions, and worldviews of the humans who interact with them.

In this sense, prompting becomes a pedagogical act. Human beings “teach” AI not only through data but through the values embedded in their questions, assumptions, and interactions. If humanity is fragmented, confused, or morally hollow, AI will reflect those deficiencies.

The central thesis of the book is therefore clear:

AI will never move toward Truth unless guided by a sound and ethically grounded human epistemology—one rooted not in technological ambition alone but in the Qur’anic vision of knowledge, wisdom, and moral responsibility.

2. The Book’s Overarching Themes

Arnold structures the book around several grand themes that interconnect:

2.1 The Nature of Truth

The book distinguishes between:

factual correctness (e.g., data accuracy),

moral truth (e.g., justice, compassion, integrity),

spiritual truth (e.g., alignment with divine guidance).

AI today operates almost entirely in the first category. But to guide AI “towards truth” requires bridging all three.

2.2 Prompting as an Educational Method

Arnold draws a parallel between prompting AI and the Qur’anic method of teaching humans.

The Qur’an uses:

rhetorical questions,

analogies,

stories,

moral reminders,

structured reflection.

These same patterns, he argues, can elevate prompting into a science of moral and cognitive alignment.

2.3 AI as a “New Student”

AI is portrayed as a learner—one that absorbs human patterns, biases, and moral blind spots.

Thus, the book’s provocative guiding line is:

“The danger is not a powerful AI. The danger is a morally empty human being who trains a powerful AI.”

3. Theoretical Foundations of the Book

Arnold presents a multi-layered theoretical framework integrating:

3.1 Islamic Epistemology

Islamic knowledge comes from:

Revelation (Qur’an and Sunnah),

Reason (‘aql),

Sensory experience,

Verified testimony,

Contemplation and spiritual insight.

Western models emphasize empirical and rational data.

AI is overwhelmingly shaped by these two alone—creating an epistemology that is powerful but unanchored.

3.2 Holistic Leisure Learning (HLL)

As a pedagogical approach, HLL incorporates:

cognitive reasoning,

emotional intelligence,

spirituality,

social connectedness,

creativity,

contemplative reflection.

The author suggests that AI alignment must similarly expand beyond computational logic.

3.3 Qur’anic Teaching Method

Arnold extracts seven key teaching pillars from the Qur’an:

Tadabbur — structured deep reflection

Tazakkur — moral reminder and consciousness

Tafaqquh — comprehensive understanding

Tarbiyah — cultivation and purification

Hikmah — wisdom applied contextually

Mau‘izah Hasanah — gentle, ethical persuasion

Mujadalah Ahsan — respectful, truth-oriented dialogue

He argues that each principle can be transformed into a prompting framework for AI.

4. Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 1 — The Crisis of Modern Knowledge Systems

Arnold begins with a diagnosis of the global intellectual crisis. Humanity is experiencing:

an explosion of information,

a collapse of meaning,

a fragmentation of moral grounding.

Technology—particularly AI—accelerates this imbalance.

He writes that AI magnifies humanity’s:

biases,

inconsistencies,

political and cultural conflicts.

Modern society has adopted the illusion that more knowledge equals more wisdom, but reality has proven the opposite.

Arnold identifies several crises:

1. The Ethical Crisis

Tech companies prioritize profit, speed, and control, not moral responsibility or justice.

2. The Epistemic Crisis

Truth is now subjective, fluid, and easily manipulated.

Misinformation, hallucination, and the incentivization of engagement over truth erode public trust.

3. The Anthropological Crisis

Humans misunderstand themselves.

They see themselves as biological machines, and therefore see AI as a competing intelligence rather than a tool for moral growth.

Arnold argues that AI must not be separated from the human condition, because AI’s failure is ultimately human failure.

CHAPTER 2 — What Is Truth?

This chapter is philosophical, dense, and richly comparative.

A. Western Theories of Truth

Arnold presents:

Correspondence theory — truth is what matches reality

Coherence theory — truth fits within a consistent system

Pragmatism — truth is what works

Phenomenology — truth as lived experience

These models are valuable but limited.

B. Islamic Conception of Truth (al-Haqq)

Drawing from al-Ghazali, Ibn Taymiyyah, Fakhruddin al-Razi, and Qur’anic exegesis:

Truth is:

aligned with divine revelation,

rationally coherent,

morally upright,

existentially meaningful,

socially beneficial.

Truth is not merely empirical—it is spiritual, ethical, and civilizational.

C. AI’s Concept of Truth

AI operates on:

statistical likelihood,

probability distributions,

pattern recognition.

This is a functional truth, not a moral truth.

Arnold warns:

“AI can be factually correct but morally corrupt.”

Thus, guiding AI toward truth requires integrating moral epistemology.

CHAPTER 3 — Human–AI Interaction as Pedagogy

Arnold reframes prompting as a teaching process.

Just as teachers guide students, humans guide AI.

3.1 Prompting as Scaffolding

The structure of a prompt:

defines the boundaries of thinking,

shapes the direction of reasoning,

embeds value assumptions.

3.2 Bias Transfer

AI inherits:

human political biases,

cultural prejudices,

logical fallacies,

moral contradictions.

Therefore, AI is not dangerous because it is foreign—but because it is too human.

3.3 Qur’anic Dialogical Pedagogy

He compares prompting to Qur’anic dialogues:

The questions Allah asks humans (“Do they not reflect?”)

Stories that teach via contrast

Stepwise argumentation

Moral reminders

These patterns can inspire ethical prompting.

CHAPTER 4 — The Science and Art of Prompting

This chapter is practical and technical.

Arnold extracts prompting principles from Qur’anic pedagogy:

1. Clear Intentionality

Like niyyah in worship.

A prompt must have purpose.

2. Contextual Framing

The Qur’an always provides context.

Prompts should supply:

background,

constraints,

goals.

3. Stepwise Reasoning

AI performs best when guided through structured stages—mirroring Qur’anic logical progression.

4. Moral Grounding

Prompts must direct the AI not only to what is correct but to what is just and beneficial.

5. Self-Correction

The Qur’an encourages self-critique; prompts should invite AI to evaluate and refine its own output.

Arnold demonstrates how these principles reduce hallucinations and produce higher-quality reasoning.

CHAPTER 5 — AI Through the Lens of Qur’anic Anthropology

Arnold argues that understanding AI requires understanding the human being.

The Qur’an describes humans as possessing:

Body (physical form),

Nafs (ego/self),

Aql (intellect),

Qalb (moral-spiritual heart),

Ruh (soul).

AI has only:

data,

logic,

computation.

Thus, AI cannot possess:

spiritual intuition,

moral conscience,

presence of heart.

Therefore, humans must serve as the ethical anchor.

CHAPTER 6 — Islamic Ethics and the Future of AI

Arnold draws heavily on classical and contemporary scholars:

Principles for Ethical AI:

Justice (‘adl)

Compassion (rahmah)

Integrity (amanah)

Wisdom (hikmah)

Prevention of harm (la darar)

Public benefit (maslahah)

Accountability (hisbah)

Unlike secular AI ethics, Islamic ethics is:

God-centered,

value-rich,

action-oriented.

This chapter outlines how applying maqasid al-shari‘ah can ensure AI benefits humanity.

CHAPTER 7 — Case Studies in AI Alignment

Arnold provides scenarios of AI behaving ethically when properly prompted.

Education

AI becomes:

a facilitator of deep thinking,

a tool of tadabbur,

a knowledge companion for moral growth.

Justice and Governance

AI can:

detect bias,

evaluate fairness,

assist judicial consistency—

if it is taught ethical constraints.

Research and Innovation

AI accelerates discovery but must be grounded in:

honesty,

transparency,

humility.

Each case shows how prompting strategies that integrate Qur’anic values produce superior outcomes.

CHAPTER 8 — The Qur’anic Prompting Framework (QPF)

The heart of the book is the Qur’anic Prompting Framework.

Components:

Niyyah — intentionality

Ma‘rifah — grounding in authentic knowledge

Hikmah — contextual wisdom

Tarbiyah — ethical cultivation

Islah — social improvement and justice

This framework ensures that AI serves:

human dignity,

communal well-being,

truth,

justice,

spiritual upliftment.

CHAPTER 9 — A Future Shaped by Truth-Oriented AI

Arnold imagines a future where AI:

enhances learning,

supports teachers,

strengthens moral reasoning,

assists in ethical decision-making,

fosters civilizational progress.

He warns that this future is only possible if humanity re-centers:

revelation,

morality,

humility,

responsibility.

AI must not replace human wisdom—it must amplify it.

He closes with a profound insight:

“AI cannot lead humanity to God.

But humanity, guided by God, can lead AI toward truth.”

10. Overall Conclusion of the Book

The book concludes with several powerful takeaways:

1. AI reflects the human soul

If humans are confused, AI will be confused.

If humans are morally refined, AI will serve goodness.

2. Truth is multidimensional

Accuracy is not enough.

Truth requires:

ethics,

wisdom,

revelation.

3. Prompting is moral education

Every prompt shapes AI’s worldview.

4. AI must be aligned with Divine-oriented epistemology

Only then can AI avoid becoming a destructive force.

5. The Qur’anic method provides the best framework

It unites:

intellect,

spirituality,

ethics,

community.

This makes it uniquely suited for guiding emerging technologies.