GAMIFICATION-BASED ZAKAT EDUCATION TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS’ LITERACY: AN ISLAMIC SOCIAL FINANCE INNOVATION

Abstract

Zakat literacy among younger generations is essential for strengthening a sustainable Islamic social finance ecosystem. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on zakat compliance, payment behavior, and institutional management, while limited attention has been given to educational strategies for developing zakat literacy among students. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a gamification-based zakat education program developed by LAZNAS IZI Banten in improving students’ zakat literacy. A quantitative approach was employed using a one-group pretest-posttest design involving 35 seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 2 Kelapa Dua, Tangerang, Indonesia. Data were collected through zakat literacy assessments before and after the intervention and analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and normalized gain (N-Gain) analysis. The results show a significant improvement in students’ zakat literacy after participating in the program (p < 0.001), with an N-Gain value of 0.4166 indicating moderate improvement. This study contributes to Islamic education literature by demonstrating that gamification can function as an innovative pedagogical approach for strengthening Islamic financial literacy. Furthermore, it expands the perspective of Islamic social finance by positioning zakat institutions as educational innovation actors beyond their traditional financial roles