Using electronic money is already a habit today because it provides convenience in transacting. However, some people may still doubt the provisions of the law according to Islamic teachings.

Electronic money or e-money is basically the same as ordinary money, just in a different form. Therefore, being with electronic money is actually mubah, legitimate and halal as long as it fulfills the principles of sharia muamalah.

Member of the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN MUI), Ustaz Dr Oni Sahroni, explained, DSN MUI has actually issued a fatwa on Sharia Electronic Money. If referring to the fatwa, he said, electronic money or digital wallets must meet sharia signs.

First, it is placed in an Islamic bank. Second, this digital wallet should be used as a means of payment to buy halal goods such as educational tools, sports equipment, insurance, or Sharia health insurance. "On the contrary, it is not used to buy goods that are not halal, harm morals, and damage children's education," Ustaz Oni told Republika, not long ago.

Third, if electronic money uses chip based, in the event that the e-money card is lost, the nominal amount of money present in the issuer should not be lost.

"E-money organizers and banks guarantee the availability of customer funds even if the card is lost because it belongs to them. But these signs do not apply if the e-money is server-based," he said.

Fourth, the terms of the rights and obligations of the parties are set forth in the terms of the platform and approved by the customer, including discounts that e-money issuers give to customers.

Nowadays there are many interesting promos for electronic money users. If shopping using digital money gets discounts or cashback, is this also allowed in Islam?

Ustaz Oni explained, the discount is allowed if the funds placed by users in digital wallets are used by publishers with discounts given on the initiative of the publisher (unconditionally), not used by digital money issuers. Whereas if used by the publisher with the required discount, it becomes riba.

For more details, Ustaz Oni elaborated on a few points. First, as an illustration, discount and cashback promos are one of the marketing strategies of digital money issuers, at the same time benefiting users and merchants.

"Among the issuer's advantages are cash in and out on each placement of the user's funds, fees from merchants, and fees for other digital money services," he said.

The discount is provided by the publisher. For example, the A top-up rp 100 thousand in a digital money account. The issuer can use the user's balance. Si A buys goods from store C for Rp 100 thousand with a 30 percent discount using digital money as a means of payment. Meanwhile, the issuer pays the merchant at full price.

Second, what are the rules of fikih related to discounts? If a discount occurs in a debt receivable transaction and is required by the creditor, it includes riba. However, if not required, according to some scholars it is not riba, but a grant (Adh-Dharir, al-Jawa'iz, Hauliyatu al-Barakah, edition V, October 2003).

Third, when is the user's top-up funds in the digital wallet status as deposits or loans?

Ustaz Oni explained, if the publisher does not use the user's funds, the status becomes titipan. However, if the issuer uses it, it becomes its debt to the user. If you use digital money as a means of payment on condition that there is a discount, the discount becomes riba. However, if you use it unconditionally, it is allowed as a grant.