Learning Sharia Finance Through an AI-Based RPG Game: IPB University Student Showcases Project at ISEF 2026
Rifki Hilman Fauzi, a student in the Department of Sharia Economics at IPB University, introduced ALIF, an educational platform for Sharia finance based on artificial intelligence (AI) and interactive gaming technology, at the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2026.
The event, organized by Bank Indonesia’s (BI) Department of Islamic Economics and Finance in collaboration with ministries, agencies, and strategic partners, took place October 14–18, 2026, at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Senayan, Jakarta.
ALIF was developed by interdisciplinary students specializing in both Islamic economics and digital technology: Rifki, Andrian Raihanuddin, and Gregorius Willson. This innovation previously won the People’s Choice Awards–Honorable Mention at the PIDI DIGDAYA x Hackathon 2026.
Financial Decision Making Simulation in an RPG
Rifki explained that, unlike financial education which generally relies on lecturing or conventional quizzes, ALIF has developed a financial decision making simulation through a turn based role playing game (RPG) titled The Gharar Files.
“In the game, users are presented with various financial scenarios, including suspicious investment offers, predatory lending practices, and issues related to usury (riba), uncertainty (garar), and gambling (maysir). Users don’t simply choose from available answers; they are trained to construct their own arguments,” he explained.
To support learning, ALIF integrates natural language processing (NLP) and retrieval augmented generation (RAG) technologies. The AI system is designed to evaluate users’ arguments by referencing relevant Islamic finance sources, including fatwas from the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI).
Academic and Technological Support
The development of ALIF is also supported by the academic environment at IPB University. Together with the Department of Sharia Economics under the guidance of Dr Khalifah Muhamad Ali, the team has developed a limited pilot program (academic sandbox) to support student learning and practical training.
The Director of the Center for Islamic Business and Economic Studies (CIBEST) at IPB University, Dr Laily Dwi Arsyianti, assisted the team in strengthening the substance of muamalah fiqh and the direction of innovation development. The team also discussed AI architecture, game mechanics, and system readiness for further development with the Chairman of the Computer Science Department at BINUS University, Ir Andry Chowanda, SKom, MM, PhD.
From Competition to Broader Application
Through a showcase at ISEF 2026, the team was able to demonstrate their prototype, receive feedback from visitors, and explore development opportunities with academics and industry practitioners. This step is part of an effort to take an innovation, which was originally developed for a competition, toward broader application as an interactive and easily accessible learning tool for Islamic finance.
“Going forward, we plan to refine the AI system, test the user experience, and explore implementation models in collaboration with Islamic educational institutions,” he stated.
Through the development of ALIF, the team and its partners in the Islamic financial ecosystem hope to expand the approach to Islamic financial literacy, one that emphasizes not only conceptual understanding but also critical thinking skills and the ability to make responsible financial decisions. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HRD)
