Examining Legal Certainty in Online Cash Waqf: The Role of Witnesses in Indonesian Islamic Philanthropy
EDN: UPULHA
Abstract
Relevance. This study explores the legal and practical relevance of witness presence in the implementation of online cash waqf at the Amil Zakat, Infaq, and Sadaqah Institution (LAZIS) Sabilillah Malang. Article 17 of Indonesia’s Waqf Law (Law No. 41 of 2004) prescribes that a waqf pledge (ikrar wakaf) must be declared in the presence of two witnesses before an authorized official. However, the transition to digital waqf practices presents challenges to the traditional legal structure, especially in terms of compliance with witness requirements and the legal certainty of digitally executed waqf pledges.
Methods and Methodology. This research adopts a normative legal approach (doctrinal legal research) supported by statutory analysis, legal interpretation, and a limited case study of LAZIS Sabilillah Malang. Primary legal sources include national laws on waqf, electronic transactions (ITE Law), and data protection, while secondary materials encompass scholarly writings, fatwas, and guidelines from the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI). The study also draws on interviews with waqf practitioners to understand the practical implementation of online waqf.
Results. The findings reveal that while digital cash waqf is increasingly accepted and institutionally supported, there is normative ambiguity surrounding the enforcement of the two-witness requirement. The absence of explicit sanctions in Article 17 of the Waqf Law weakens its prescriptive power, resulting in varied interpretations and practices among waqf institutions. In the case of LAZIS Sabilillah Malang, digital footprints such as payment confirmations and digital records are used as substitutes for traditional witnesses. However, this substitution has not yet received explicit legal recognition, creating a gap between regulatory text and institutional practice.
Conclusion and Discussion. The study concludes that the lack of clarity in the statutory language of Article 17, particularly regarding the necessity and legal consequences of absent witnesses, contributes to legal uncertainty in the digital waqf domain. This uncertainty calls for regulatory reform that accommodates technological advancements while upholding the core principles of Islamic waqf jurisprudence. Additionally, a stronger culture of legal literacy and community trust in digital waqf systems is essential to ensure broader acceptance. Collaborative efforts between the government, BWI, and waqf institutions are needed to provide a clear and authoritative framework for the legality of witness roles in online waqf practices.
About the Authors
Kh. N. Alfina
Brawijaya University
Indonesia
Indonesia
Alfina Khoirun Nisa -Student of the Faculty of Law
Malang
A. S. K. Dewi
Brawijaya University
Indonesia
Indonesia
Amelia Sri Kusuma Dewi - Doctor of Science (Jurisprudence), Lecturer of the Faculty of Law
Malang
R. I. R. Sjafi’i
Brawijaya University
Indonesia
Indonesia
R. Imam Rahmat Sjafi’i - Master of Notary, Lecturer of the Faculty of Law
Malang
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For citations:
Alfina Kh.N., Dewi A.S., Sjafi’i R.I. Examining Legal Certainty in Online Cash Waqf: The Role of Witnesses in Indonesian Islamic Philanthropy. Theoretical and Applied Law. 2025;(2):9-23. EDN: UPULHA
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