Online Giving Remains Low, Baznas Says It Is Not a Setback

JAKARTA — The National Alms Agency (Baznas) has assessed that the still low use of digital platforms for giving alms is not a setback. On the contrary, the phenomenon mirrors the sociological reality of Indonesian Muslim society, which still views almsgiving as a spiritual experience laden with emotional closeness. Deputy Chairman of Baznas RI, Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi, stated that the majority of Muslims in Indonesia do not merely transfer funds when giving alms; they also wish to feel inner happiness through direct interaction with the beneficiaries. “As a leader of the National Alms Agency, we see these data and phenomena not as a setback, but as a sociological reality as well as a major challenge for amil zakat institutions in this digital era,” Zainut said when contacted on Tuesday. According to him, there is an emotional bond that makes people feel more satisfied when they can witness directly the happy smiles of mustahik, or beneficiaries. Furthermore, the direct encounter between giver and receiver also provides a sense of certainty regarding the validity of the alms handover contract from a fiqh perspective. On the other hand, Zainut acknowledged that the low utilisation of digital channels also serves as an evaluation for zakat management institutions. He noted that trust issues persist, causing people to doubt whether funds distributed online actually reach those entitled to receive them. “This 95 per cent figure is an evaluation for us that the Islamic philanthropic digital ecosystem still faces major challenges in terms of transparency and accountability. The public is still worried about whether the money they click on their phone screens truly reaches the rightful hands,” he said. Consequently, Baznas is committed to strengthening the transparency and accountability of digital services. Zainut stated that the agency will continue to audit digital systems and present more transparent, real-time, and personalised distribution reports for muzaki. He added that Baznas will also not rigidly enforce digital transformation. The strategy pursued is to blend technological convenience with the warmth of direct interaction that has long been an integral part of Islamic philanthropic culture.