BRIDGING THE KNOWLEDGE GAP: HARMONIZING THE CONCEPT OF SMART CONTRACT TECHNOLOGY AND ISLAMIC LAW PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The rapid development in technology, especially smart contract technology, poses challenges in aligning its principles with the Shariah perspective. Although this technology has great potential to facilitate human affairs in various fields, including the financial, zakat and halal sectors, the gap between Shariah researchers and the understanding of this technological innovation is wide due to the complexity of smart contracts involving technical aspects and new innovations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the challenges in understanding smart contract technology from the perspective of Islamic law. A qualitative approach based on library research was applied to achieve the objectives of the study by referring to relevant documents and literature. The collected data was then analyzed using thematic content analysis methods, enabling the identification of themes and patterns in the literature related to smart contracts and Shariah principles. The results found that there is a significant gap in the understanding of smart contracts among Shariah researchers, mainly due to the technical complexities involved and limited accessibility to relevant information. To address the knowledge gap, it is important to increase access to comprehensive resources that describe the technical aspects of smart contracts along with Shariah principles. Collaboration between technologists and Shariah scholars are important to facilitate mutual understanding and bridge the gap between the two domains. Additionally, ongoing research and discourse is encouraged to refine the understanding of smart contracts within the Shariah framework.