From Fintech to FaithTech: The Rise of Digital Platforms in Shariah-Compliant Financial Ecosystems
Keywords:
Faithtech, Fintech, Shariah Governance, Technology Acceptance Model, Ethical Assurance, Spiritual Trust, Maqasid Al-Shariah, Islamic Digital FinanceAbstract
This study investigates the rise of FaithTech, an emerging paradigm that integrates financial technology (Fintech) with faith-based ethics to create Shariah-compliant digital financial ecosystems. The research explores how technological innovation, Shariah governance, and ethical assurance shape user trust and adoption behavior within Islamic digital finance. Using an empirical mixed-method approach with an exploratory sequential design, the study combines qualitative insights from expert interviews with quantitative analysis validated through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The qualitative phase identifies four key themes digital Shariah governance, faith-based trust, technological inclusion, and spiritual motivation while the quantitative phase confirms that perceived usefulness and perceived Shariah compliance significantly influence trust, which strongly predicts intention to use FaithTech services. Moreover, ethical assurance mediates the relationship between Shariah compliance and trust, emphasizing the role of moral transparency in building user confidence. These findings extend the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by integrating religion-based legitimacy and spiritual trust as vital determinants of technology adoption. The study concludes that FaithTech ecosystems thrive on the synergy of technology, ethics, and governance, aligning with maqasid al-shariah in promoting justice, welfare, and inclusivity. Ultimately, FaithTech represents not only a digital innovation but also a moral and socio-economic transformation, redefining the future of Islamic finance in the digital era.
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