S-Iltizam: Islamic micro saving and learning tool for university students

University students in Malaysia, particularly those from low- to middle-income backgrounds, face mounting financial pressures without access to structured financial literacy or culturally aligned saving mechanisms. In response to this gap, S-Iltizam is introduced as a mobile-based Islamic micro-saving and learning tool tailored for Muslim university students. Grounded in Maqasid al-Shariah and Islamic financial ethics, the app integrates practical digital saving features with spiritual development components to foster holistic student well-being. Key modules within S-Iltizam include a goal-based savings tracker such as for tuition, umrah, sadaqah, a daily Quran reading and zikir reminder system, a visual dashboard summarizing financial growth, and personalized encouragements embedded with Islamic values. The design reflects a user-centred approach, catering to the Gen Z digital lifestyle while reinforcing Islamic behavioural discipline. Unlike conventional financial apps, S-Iltizam offers a dual developmental track—financial and spiritual—thus positioning itself uniquely within the Shariah-compliant fintech landscape. The novelty lies in how it gamifies saving behaviour with Islamic teachings, providing not only functional support for money management but also enhancing users’ spiritual connection through daily engagement. Preliminary pilot tests with university students demonstrated increased saving frequency, improved religious consistency, and positive feedback on app usability and motivation features. The project contributes to the national agenda of financial inclusion and supports United Nations SDGs, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). S-Iltizam is envisioned as a scalable, ethical fintech solution with potential to be adopted by higher education institutions, zakat bodies, and Islamic schools. It represents a meaningful innovation that bridges modern technology with Islamic pedagogy to empower the next generation of financially responsible, spiritually conscious youth.