Algorithms that Heal the Soul and the Limits of Digital Empathy in Mental Health Care
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into mental health care marks a profound shift in how psychological support is accessed, delivered, and experienced. Digital platforms now listen to emotional distress, track mood fluctuations, and offer therapeutic guidance through chatbots and mobile applications. While these innovations promise efficiency and scalability, they also raise deeper ethical and philosophical questions, particularly within Muslim societies, where mental well-being is inseparable from faith, moral responsibility, and communal values. In this context, Islamic psychology and Maqasid al-Shariah (the higher objectives of Islamic law) provide a vital moral framework for reimagining AI-driven mental health systems as compassionate, dignified, and spiritually grounded technologies.