Al-Kharaj: Journal of Islamic Economic and Business
Vol. 8 No. 3 (2026): Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): All articles in this issue include authors from 3 countrie

E-Commerce, Financial Technology, and MSME Development: the Moderating Role of Digital Literacy in Islamic Economics

Anwar Sadat (Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan)
Muhammad Syukri Albani Nasution (Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan)
Muhammad Irwan Padli Nasution (Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara Medan)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Aug 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the direct effects of e-commerce, financial technology, and digital literacy on MSME development in Medan City, tests digital literacy as a moderator, and interprets the findings from an Islamic economic perspective. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey involved 85 digitally active MSME owners or operators purposively selected from a population of 38,343 businesses. Five-point Likert data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: E-commerce (β = .256; p = .013), financial technology (β = .359; p = .001), and digital literacy (β = .359; p < .001) each had positive direct effects. The model explained 73.3% of MSME-development variance. Digital literacy did not moderate the financial-technology relationship (β = .005; p = .959) or the e-commerce relationship (β = -.057; p = .592). Implications: Digital literacy operates primarily as a direct business capability. MSME support should combine e-commerce optimization, secure digital finance, and Sharia-compliant digital-literacy development based on transparency, mutual consent, justice, and avoidance of riba, gharar, maysir, tadlis, and prohibited transactions.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

alkharaj

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Al-Kharaj, Journal of Islamic Economic and Business is peer-reviewed journal published by program studi ekonomi syariah , Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN) Palopo. Al-Kharaj focus on the research of Islamic Economic and Business. The aims of this journal is to explore and develop economic related ...