Does QRIS Meet Contractual Standards in Fiqh Muamalah?
In this modern era, we cannot escape technological advancements, one of which is the QRIS payment method. We often encounter stalls, shops, or online stores that use QRIS as an alternative payment method for those without cash or who wish to pay via digital wallets. Besides being fast and easy, QRIS makes it convenient for merchants to receive payments from various applications that can use QR codes. But what contract is used in QRIS transactions? There are several contracts involved in QRIS transactions.
When making a purchase using QRIS, we indirectly use a Ba’i (sale and purchase) contract. From a Sharia perspective, this contract is considered valid because the transaction involves an offer (ijab) and acceptance (qabul), even though it is done non-verbally. This aligns with Sharia principles because a Ba’i contract occurs and an agreement is reached between the seller and the buyer.
When we pay for services using QRIS, such as a barber, masseuse, tailor, or online motorcycle taxi, we use an Ijarah (lease/hire) contract in the transaction. This is explained in the DSN-MUI Fatwa No. 112/DSN-MUI/IX/2017, which states that an Ijarah contract can be used for the lease of benefits from goods and services.
When we scan a QRIS code and press the payment confirmation button, this action constitutes a shighat (declaration/action) stating that the digital wallet we use to scan the QR code represents us in processing the payment to the merchant. The contract used in this transaction is a Wakalah (agency) contract because the user is represented by a third party, namely the digital wallet, to make the payment to the service provider. This transaction is permissible in Sharia because it uses a Wakalah contract, which is clear and free from elements of maysir (gambling), gharar (uncertainty), and riba (usury), and is based on mutual agreement.
A Wadiah (safekeeping) contract is also one of the contracts used in QRIS, because to transact using QRIS, we must have funds deposited in the digital wallet that will later be used for QRIS transactions.
When it comes to lending funds without compensation, many Sharia-compliant digital payment systems rely on the Qardh contract, including in the development of QRIS, to ensure financial transactions run according to Sharia principles. In QRIS, a Qardh contract occurs when funds provided by the user to the electronic money service provider are used for investment or operational purposes, with the provider obligated to return the funds to the user at any time upon request. The user deposits a sum of money into an electronic account in the form of QRIS.
Overall, the use of QRIS as a digital payment method does not contradict the principles of Fiqh Muamalah; rather, it is a modern adaptation of long-established Sharia contracts. When we purchase goods, the transaction reflects a valid Ba’i (sale and purchase) contract because it fulfils the elements of mutual agreement, where ijab and qabul are manifested through digital actions such as pressing the confirmation button. Meanwhile, payment for services such as a barber, masseuse, or online motorcycle taxi uses an Ijarah (service hire) contract, which is in line with the provisions of DSN-MUI Fatwa No. 112/DSN-MUI/IX/2017. The process of scanning the QR code and pressing payment confirmation also reflects a Wakalah (agency) contract, where the digital wallet acts as a legal and transparent representative to forward funds to the seller, thus freeing the transaction from elements of maysir, gharar, and riba.
Furthermore, funds that remain stored or idle in the digital wallet before use are classified under a Wadiah (safekeeping) contract, which must be kept secure and allows the user to withdraw the funds at any time. If the service provider utilises these funds for operational purposes, this can be categorised as a Qardh (interest-free loan) contract with the obligation to return the funds in full upon the user’s request.
QRIS is essentially just a digital form of transactions that are already common in Islam; only the medium has changed, not the fundamental principles. As long as transactions are conducted with mutual consent, transparency, and are free from prohibited elements, QRIS payments remain halal, valid, and aligned with Islamic muamalah values.