Implications of E-Money Usage on Students’ Consumption Behavior From A Maslahah Perspective

Abstract

The rapid growth of digital payment instruments, particularly electronic money (e-money), has significantly influenced the consumption behavior of high school students. This study analyzes the maslahah (benefit) and mafsadah (harm) dimensions of e-money usage in terms of Islamic economic principles and maqashid al-shari'ah theory among students of SMA Negeri 1 Polewali, West Sulawesi. Using a qualitative case study approach, primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with seven students, one teacher, and one parent, supplemented by observation and documentation. The findings indicate that e-money usage patterns encompass daily consumption transactions, digital needs, online shopping, and school-related payments. E-money influences consumption behavior through four indicators: spending patterns, self-control, consumption purposes, and fund efficiency. From the maslahah perspective, e-money provides convenience (hajiyyat maslahat), educational support linked to the preservation of intellect (hifzh al-'aql) and wealth (hifzh al-mal), and facilitates financial monitoring. On the mafsadah side, e-money potentially encourages impulsive spending (israf) and weakens self-control in the absence of financial literacy and parental supervision. Overall, maslahah is more dominant than mafsadah, particularly because the social environment of Polewali Mandar, parental oversight, and financial constraints of students serve as natural moderating factors. The study concludes that e-money is a conditionally permissible instrument in Islamic economics, whose value is determined by users' consumption behavior and awareness, not by the instrument itself.