Digital Transformation in Islamic Social Finance: Evaluating Transparency, Trust, and Governance in ZISWAF Digital Ecosystems

<jats:p>The ZISWAF (Zakat, Infaq, Sadaqah, and Waqf) framework constitutes a core pillar of Islamic social finance, offering institutional mechanisms for socio-economic justice and poverty mitigation. However, traditional fund administration often encounters structural challenges related to operational efficiency, transparency, and donor confidence. The rapid evolution of Financial Technology has introduced novel opportunities to digitalize donation workflows. Utilizing a qualitative multiple-case study design and thematic analysis, this study evaluates 20 digital donation platforms across 10 Muslim-majority and 10 non-Muslim countries. The analysis investigates platform operations across five key dimensions: Scope and Relevance, Transparency and Trust, User Interface and Convenience, Target Audience, and Project Diversity and Impact. The findings reveal that while digital platforms significantly lower transactional friction and enhance accountability through real-time tracking and verification, critical barriers persist regarding data privacy, cybersecurity, the digital divide, and Shariah governance (fiqh compliance). By embedding technical capability within Islamic jurisprudential principles (al-adl, maslahah, amanah), this paper provides a balanced framework for optimizing technology-driven Islamic social finance.</jats:p>