OJK launches PELITA Syariah to boost Islamic financial literacy

The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) has launched the PELITA Syariah guidebook, designed to strengthen Islamic financial literacy through religious leaders and preaching networks. The initiative aims to use religious sermons and lectures to educate the public on responsible financial management and to protect citizens from illegal financial products, such as fraudulent online loans and scams.

OJK Chairperson Friderica Widyasari Dewi emphasized that increasing literacy must occur alongside expanding access to Sharia financial services. The launch follows data from the 2026 National Survey of Financial Literacy and Inclusion, which showed a Sharia financial literacy index of 43.07 percent and an inclusion index of 13.24 percent, highlighting a significant gap in the utilization of Sharia services.

Religious leaders and Islamic organizations have been encouraged to collaborate with the banking sector to increase the Sharia banking market share, which currently stands at approximately 7.3 percent. Experts suggest that strengthening the synergy between the OJK, the National Sharia Board of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI), and religious communities is essential to addressing challenges such as limited branch networks and the need for better public education.