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ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history:

Received XX Month 2024

Revised XX Month 2024

Accepted XX Month 2024

Online first

Published 1 September 2024

 Technology is changing the zakat management process. It enables new zakat business models and facilitates the shift from traditional to digital markets. This study analyzes UiTM's zakat application process and identifies management issues that require quick ZAWAF-applicant feedback. The managerial areas needing research will also be determined by this study. The biggest problem is students' lack of awareness about the zakat institution, including the application deadline, the availability period of the application, and the day the results are published. This study collects data from books, journals, conference papers, and other relevant websites using a qualitative research method. Zakat applicants' troubles appear to be caused by outdated system facilities. Currently, applicants often don't know the status of their application. Most people today have email and internet-connected phones. This study proposes building a Zakat administration system using Notepad++, Microsoft Studio Code, and XAMPP. The system allows administrators, interviewers, and applicants to apply, track their applications and receive email notifications about their application status. Administrators can monitor the applicants' progress while interviewers conduct the interviews. The development process includes planning, gathering information, designing, developing, testing, and documenting. Project evaluation involves sending a questionnaire with usability test questions to thirty respondents. Functional testing uses test scripts. The results suggest that a system using email as a notification method is an effective solution for addressing the problem of low student awareness of the ZAWAF. The testing shows that the system works but needs further development.

Keywords:

asnaf

notification

web application

zakat

DOI:

10.24191/jcrinn.v9i2
# INTRODUCTION The term zakat is derived from the Arabic word zakaa, which signifies clean and pure (Asni, 2022). Ibn Manzur (1990) mentions clean, increasing, blessings, and praise as the foundation of zakat. Allah SWT clarifies the essence of zakat in the Qur'an: "Truly, blessed is the one who purifies the soul" (al-Syams: 9). On the basis of this passage, it is possible to conclude that the purpose of zakat is to purge the property of its admixture with the rights of others, to purify the human soul of its greedy and envious HALOBA character, and to give birth to an ideal disposition towards other humans. While the Islamic definition of zakat is a specific property distributed under specified conditions to certain groups, the term zakat sometimes refers to a tax (ASNAF). Many attempts have been made by Muslims since the time of Rasulullah SAW to strengthen the administration of zakat in order to ensure that the goal and purpose of zakat legislation have been attained (Asni, 2022). Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM) is one of the largest universities in Malaysia, and the majority of their students are Muslim, including those in the B40 group whose monthly family income is less than RM4000. They typically have less access and capacity to satisfy the demands of their families. Consequently, UITM understood this situation and gave them with zakat and sadaqah allowances based on their semester of study. The UITM Center for Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf (ZAWAF) established these arrangements. Its convenience will help in easing the stress of the B40. (Qadri & Bhatti, 2021). Nevertheless, in the current period, student awareness of the ZAWAF and their perspective of the distribution of zakat to those in need are extremely poor. The world of digital media has given us a new way to live without talking to people face to face. People's visibility today is mostly through virtual space, using devices like the cell phone, laptop, and iPad, which can all make connections and reach anywhere and everywhere. Online meets have made it easier and more fun to meet new people. This new way of talking works not only for social networking, but also for spreading information quickly and effectively to a group. Social media are now more useful in a good way and reach more people online than face-to-face interaction (Khalis, Omar, Kasim, Hamid, and Zainal, 2022). In this way, it will be more efficient if Zakat, Sadoqah, and Waqf have a good and organised management system with features that are easy to use. The lack of understanding of zakat among university students is the biggest problem. They are unaware of important details such as the last day to file a zakat application, the length of time the application will be open, or the date the results will be made public. The purpose of this research is to analyse UITM's zakat application process and identify areas of management that require prompt responses from applicants and ZAWAF. The research will also determine what aspects of management need to be examined. This study used a qualitative research strategy to compile data from a wide range of resources, including books, journals, conference papers, and other websites. Most of the issues that zakat applicants face appears to be the result of outdated infrastructure. These days, it's not uncommon for zakat applicants to have no idea what's happening with their paperwork. Today, nearly everyone also possesses a cell phone with internet access and an email address. # LIterature review ## 2.1 Zakat Management System (discuss more on problem in managing zakat which required digital) In Islam, zakat is a crucial financial tool. Muslims who are in a position to do so are obligated to offer a percentage of their wealth to those who receive zakat. Many studies have been conducted on zakat, with most of them looking at zakat's associated instruments from a number of different angles and fields of study. Among the zakat instruments investigated is the zakat institution. A zakat institution is required to manage and distribute zakat in countries that practise the zakat system. Popularity of zakat funds among Muslims stems from their potential to help the poor improve their standard of living. Yet, there is often inequity in the distribution of zakat funds. Hence, a zakat organisation should have the resources to effectively manage and disperse zakat contributions. To carry out its intended purposes, a zakat institution must be well-managed and allocate zakat efficiently. (Adiwijaya & Suprianto, 2020). ## 2.2 Electronic Mail Digital computers that are connected to a network can send and receive electronic mail, also known as e- mail. Electronic mail is a method of communication between networked computers that allows the sender and recipient to exchange text, graphics, sounds, and animated images (e-mail). Among the most widely used and instantly recognisable symbols in the world today is the "at sign" (@), which is located in the middle of an email address and separates the sender's name from the host's domain name. In the centre of an email address, you will see this symbol. The vast majority of networks provide for simultaneous data transmission to the entire online community, a small subset of the online community, or a single online user. Internet users typically have access to an electronic mailbox that can receive, store, and sort all of their messages. The receiver is free to read the message, print a copy, store it, alter it, respond to it, forward it, or do whatever else with it. Users of a wide variety of e-mail systems have access to sophisticated features that either alert them to new messages or give them the option to employ additional privacy precautions. Email systems are a crucial means of communication for the staff of large organisations and institutions, as well as for anybody else who has access to those networks. Most public internet and bulletin board systems offer email services, and most of these systems keep their worldwide communication networks either free or at a relatively inexpensive fee (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2023). ## 2.3 PHPMailer PHPMailer is a code library that can be added to a web server so that PHP code can be used to send emails in a safe and efficient way. When PHP code is used to send emails, a high-level environment is used to set up the SMTP standard convention as well as concerns and security holes related to spamming through Mail injection. Even though there are many other PHP libraries, PHPMailer is one of the ones that is used the most. Even though it was made available for the first time in the early 2000s, PHP developers now use it as a common way to send emails. The PHPMailer example given below shows an alternative way to send emails that doesn't use the mail () function. In general, PHPMailer is a replacement for the mail () function, which is the standard option because it is used more often. The mail () function is not very flexible because it can't be used in a lot of different ways. (Khan, 2021). ## 2.4 Web Development Web development, which is also called "website development," is the process of designing, building, and maintaining websites and web applications that can be accessed online through a web browser. But it could also involve database management, web design, and programming for the web. The process of designing the features and functions of mobile apps is very similar to the process of building websites (web design). In general, the word "development" refers to the process of building one of these things (that is to say, the programming of sites). The main tools used in this process are the programming languages HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and JavaScript. But there are a number of other programmes that are used to "manage" or help build websites. Without these programmes, tasks that would have to be done "from scratch" by writing code would have to be done with these programmes. These programmes make it so that you don't have to do these things by hand. Content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, TYPO3, and Adobe Experience Manager, among others, are in this category. (BrainStation, 2022). # METHODOLOGY (elaborate more on methodology in implementing digital in zakat management) According to Business Bliss Consultants FZE (2018), the term "methodology" refers to many approaches that can be taken to collect, organise, and evaluate data. Also, it comprises procedures that are compatible with one another and can produce data and findings that are reflective of the research topic as well as the purpose of the researcher. It gives a full explanation of the methodologies and procedures utilised by the research software, as well as a theoretical analysis of these methods. Also included is an explanation of how the research software came to its conclusions. The study can be broken down into six distinct stages: planning, information gathering, design, development, testing, and documentation. The technique of the project is displayed down below in Fig. 1. > ![](66acf953501ed_media/media/image1.jpeg)**Fig. 1:** Project Methodology # FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The Zakat Management System with Email must operate properly. It was determined through a functional test whether or not the system in issue meets the functional criteria and technical standards. All three participants, including interviewers, users, and administrators, must finish the examination. When the final outcome reveals that all of the application's features are operating as planned, we may consider it a success. Thirty UiTM Arau Campus students will evaluate the usability tests. According to the findings of usability testing, the majority of respondents agreed that this system is a good, efficient platform that will assist users, especially students, and administrators in managing the e-Zawaf system. ## 4.1 User Acceptence Test User Acceptance Test (UAT) is conducted to identify the system's strengths and weaknesses. UAT is also the final phase of the testing process, during which users test the system to ensure that it satisfies users and can conduct required activities in real-world settings according to the requirements. Respondents to the UAT were instructed to do the specified system-function-related tasks. The designer was asked to observe and record the respondents' reactions and interactions while they performed the tasks. After successfully completing the tasks, respondents must submit an email survey to provide feedback on the Zakat Management System. # RESULT AND analysis Based on the UAT conducted on the system, it was determined that the system's overall recognition rate is 95 percent. The results of the completed task are reported in Table 1. > **Table 1: Results of UAT.**

Task instructions

Observation
Admin can register and login the account Succeeded
Interviewer able to login the account Succeeded
Student can register and login the account Succeeded
Student can create new application then submit Succeeded
Admin able to receive new application Succeeded
Admin able to accept and proceed the application to interviewer Succeeded
Interviewers receive the application Succeeded
Interviewer able to fill interview form Succeeded
Student can view the application status Succeeded
Admin can determine the application Succeeded
Student can receive notification through email Succeeded
User able to view account information Not (only admin and interviewer)
All users can logout the account Succeeded
# conclusion and recommendation In conclusion, the goal of this system, a web-based zakat management system with email integration, is to address the issues faced by students applying for zakat. Their main complaint is the lack of information provided by the organization in charge of distributing zakat. This system could resolve many problems for applicants by allowing them to submit their applications online and receive email updates on the status of their applications. The research aims to investigate how zakat applications are handled in UiTM and identify areas requiring quick responses from both the applicants and ZAWAF. The next step is to create a web-based application that integrates web and email functionalities for zakat management. The final step involves conducting a user acceptance test to evaluate the effectiveness of the web administration of instant zakat. The system was developed using Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, PHPMailer, and XAMPP. The development process included planning, gathering information, designing, developing, testing, and documenting the final product. The system will eventually support three different user levels, making it easier for the zakat organization to manage the system. The final goal was achieved by distributing a questionnaire to thirty respondents, including 28 students and two experts, to conduct expert testing. After the project was completed, it was found that all the goals set during the project's initial stages were met within the allotted time frame. Additionally, the system succeeded in delivering both the expected findings and discoveries. Several suggestions have been made to enhance the Zakat Management System using email, which will be implemented in a future release. Given that most people constantly have their smartphones on them, it makes sense to develop this system as a mobile app. This would make it easier and more convenient for students to access, compared to using a laptop or browser. Additionally, future developers may want to limit the number of applications a student can submit in a given period, such as a semester, to discourage multiple submissions. This will simplify the process for the administration to determine whether an applicant has already applied. # # Acknowledgements/Funding (DOUBLE-BLIND reviewing. Leave the section as is. Only include Acknowledgements text in the final submission paper) This section is compulsory. The following is an example of an acknowledgement statement: The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah and Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia for providing the facilities and financial support on this research. # Conflict of interest statement (DOUBLE-BLIND reviewing. Leave the section as is. Only include CONFLICT OF INTERESTS text in the final submission paper) # This section is compulsory. The following is an example of a conflict-of-interest statement: The authors agree that this research was conducted in the absence of any self-benefits, commercial or financial conflicts and declare the absence of conflicting interests with the funders. # Authors’ contributions Each author contribution must be stated clearly reflecting each contribution to the body of the work and manuscript. Authors can refer to [CRediT](http://credit.niso.org/) (Contribution Roles Taxonomy) for the detailed information about individual contributions to the work. For example ***(Double Blind Review: Leave this section blank until final camera-ready submission)*:** **Anis Muneerah Shaiful Bahari**: Conceptualisation, methodology, formal analysis, investigation and writing-original draft; **Nurhaswani Alias**: Conceptualisation, methodology, and formal analysis; **Zainovia Lockman**: Conceptualisation, formal analysis, and validation; **Haslina Misran**: Conceptualisation, supervision, writing- review and editing, and validation. # References Adiwijaya, Z., Alim, Z., & Suprianto, E. (2020, April). Good governance of zakat institutions: A literature review. Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University, 55(2). Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350081470\_Good\_Governance\_of\_Zakat\_Institutions\_A\_Literature\_Review/fulltext/60500a76a6fdccbfeae1ca20/Good-Governance-of-Zakat-Institutions-A-Literature-Review.pdf Asni, F. (2021, December). Management of zakat collection and distribution by MAIPS during COVID-19 in Perlis: A literature review. Retrieved July 9, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356913490\_MANAGEMENT\_OF\_ZAKAT\_COLLECTION\_AND\_DISTRIBUTION\_BY\_MAIPS\_DURING\_COVID-19\_IN\_PERLIS\_A\_LITERATURE\_REVIEW BrainStation®. (2022, December 20). What is web development? (2023 guide). BrainStation®. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://brainstation.io/career-guides/what-is-web-development Chris, K. (2021, August 30). What is PHP? The PHP programming language meaning explained. freeCodeCamp.org. Retrieved July 5, 2022, from https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/what-is-php-the-php-programming-language-meaning-explained/ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (2023, January 9). E-mail. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/technology/e-mail Hussain, M., Ishaq, M., & Qadri, B. (2021, August 11). Contemporary issues in Islamic social finance. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003050209-1/contemporary-issues-islamic-social-finance-hussain-qadri-ishaq-bhatti Khalis, F. M., Omar, W. N. F. W., Kasim, K., Hamid, O. A., & Zainal, H. (2022, March 25). Digital media as an effective platform for zakat Kedah state information source. EUDL.

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