Determinants of behavioral intention to donate via sadaqah platforms in Malaysia and its implications for societal well-being: A narrative review based on UTAUT

Authors

  • Nurul Izzah Noor Zainan Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Cawangan Terengganu, Malaysia,
  • Mohd Khairy Kamaruddin Academy of Islamic Civilisation, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
  • Farah Safura Muhammud Academy of Islamic Civilisation, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
  • Wan Noor Hazlina Wan Jusoh Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Cawangan Terengganu, Malaysia,
  • Nor Faezah Ghazi Ahmad Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Cawangan Terengganu, Malaysia,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.118734

Keywords:

Online Charity (Sadaqah), Digital Platforms, UTAUT, Societal well-being

Abstract

The rapid development of digital financial technology has significantly transformed the landscape of Islamic philanthropy, making online charity (sadaqah) platforms a major innovative medium for collecting donations. Although smartphone usage and internet access are becoming increasingly widespread, the level of acceptance and intention among the Malaysian public to fully transition to digital charity methods still requires in-depth examination. Therefore, this article aims to examine the determinants of the public's behavioral intention in using charity platforms by applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. This study employs a qualitative design through a literature review method, specifically sourcing and analyzing articles from Scopus and other prominently indexed journals, where previous empirical studies related to digital financial platforms and philanthropy are systematically synthesized. The results of the literature analysis found that the four main UTAUT constructs namely Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions consistently prove to be positive determinants that drive donors' intentions to use the technology. Overall, this article proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework to explain the dynamics of donor behavior in Malaysia. These findings are expected to provide strategic guidance to policymakers, charitable institutions, and platform developers in designing trusted, user-friendly charity applications. Ultimately, by ensuring the sustainability and continued usage of digital philanthropic platforms, these efforts will empower marginalized communities and foster greater financial inclusion. This digital transition is vital to promote the development of social welfare undertakings and contribute to the socioeconomic betterment of living conditions, thereby significantly enhancing the overall societal well-being of the nation.

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Author Biography

Nurul Izzah Noor Zainan, Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Cawangan Terengganu, Malaysia,

2 Academy of Islamic Civilisation, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia 

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Published

2026-10-28

How to Cite

Noor Zainan, N. I., Kamaruddin , M. K., Muhammud , F. S., Wan Jusoh , W. N. H., & Ghazi Ahmad, N. F. (2026). Determinants of behavioral intention to donate via sadaqah platforms in Malaysia and its implications for societal well-being: A narrative review based on UTAUT. Journal of Islamic, Social, Economics and Development, 11(87), 502–513. https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.118734