UNDERSTANDING ZAKAT PAYMENT BEHAVIOR IN DIGITAL PLATFORMS: MOTIVATIONS AND BARRIERS

Abstract

This study aims to understand zakat payment behavior on digital platforms by examining the main motivations and barriers that influence Muslims' decisions to pay zakat online. The rapid development of financial technology and digital zakat platforms has transformed traditional zakat practices, but adoption remains uneven across society. This study uses a qualitative approach with a literature review method through a literature review of scientific journal articles, books, and academic publications relevant to digital zakat, user behavior, and Islamic social finance. The analysis was conducted descriptively and analytically to identify patterns, concepts, and key findings in the related literature. The results indicate that ease of use, trust in digital platforms, transparency in zakat fund management, and religious awareness and understanding are the main factors driving digital zakat payments. While dominant barriers include concerns about data security, low digital literacy, limited understanding of platform credibility, and a preference for direct or conventional zakat distribution. This study concludes that although digital platforms offer efficiency and accessibility, strengthening trust, improving system security, and educating the public are key factors in increasing the adoption of digital zakat, and provides conceptual and practical implications for zakat institutions, policymakers, and digital platform developers in designing a zakat payment system that is more inclusive, trustworthy, and in line with religious values and technological developments.