Reimagining Hadith Scholarship in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Insights from a PRISMA-Based Systematic Literature Review

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed diverse fields of knowledge, including Islamic textual studies. Within this context, the integration of AI into Hadith scholarship presents new opportunities for automation, verification, and knowledge extraction, while simultaneously introducing epistemological and ethical challenges. This study aims to systematically map and analyze global research on the application of AI in Hadith studies, identifying dominant technologies, methodological trends, key challenges, and future research directions. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the PRISMA framework, 19 Scopus-indexed studies published between 2013 and 2025 were analyzed to trace publication dynamics and methodological patterns. The results reveal growing scholarly attention since 2019, with research evolving from machine learning applications for Hadith classification toward deep learning, natural language processing (NLP), and transformer-based models. AI has been predominantly applied in three domains: classification, authentication through isnād and matn analysis, and semantic or textual interpretation. Despite notable progress, persistent limitations remain, including the absence of standardized benchmark datasets, limited explainability of AI models, and weak integration between algorithmic reasoning and Islamic epistemology. The study underscores the need for ethically grounded and explainable AI frameworks aligned with uṣūl al-ḥadīth principles and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah values to ensure theological integrity and interpretive transparency. Conceptually, it contributes to defining Digital Hadith Science as an emerging interdisciplinary field bridging data science and Islamic scholarship. The paper concludes by outlining a forward-looking research agenda emphasizing multilingual data infrastructures, epistemologically informed AI design, and collaborative frameworks between computer scientists and Islamic scholars.