Trust, Religiosity, and User Experience in Shaping the Adoption of Digital Zakat Platforms
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Abstract
Islamic economics has increasingly focused on how digital technologies reshape religious financial practices such as zakat, a mandatory almsgiving that connects spiritual obligation with social responsibility. Within this context, digital zakat platforms represent an emerging form of Islamic social finance that enhances accessibility but raises concerns about trust, transparency, and authenticity. This study explores how zakat payers (muzakki) experience and interpret digital zakat practices through an interpretative phenomenological approach, emphasizing their perceptions of faith, trust, and usability. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with Muslim zakat payers who had experience using digital platforms and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings reveal four core dimensions: trust, religiosity, user experience, and transparency. While digital zakat offers efficiency and convenience, its acceptance depends on perceived shariah compliance, clarity in fund distribution, and spiritual satisfaction. These insights highlight that digital zakat is not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual act mediated by technology, shaping how faith adapts to digital innovation. The study provides theoretical enrichment for Islamic social finance and practical implications for designing more trustworthy and spiritually grounded digital zakat platforms.
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