Investigating drivers of qardhul hassan financing acceptance in the time of COVID-19: a Malaysian breadwinner perspective

PurposeThis study was conducted to examine factors that could determine breadwinners' willingness to accept qardhul hassan financing in the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon ‘Attitude, Social Influence and Self-Efficacy’ (ASE) model, this study examined the effects of attitude, subjective influence and self-efficacy on qardhul hassan financing acceptance during the pandemic. The sample size was 294 respondents who were all breadwinners and sourced from group bottom 40 or B40 in Malaysia.FindingsThe results obtained acknowledged that attitude, subjective influence and self-efficacy shaped the formation and development of breadwinners' acceptance to take up the facility during the pandemic at best for well-being.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should include samples from other geographies in Malaysia along with new variables relevant to extend the findings.Practical implicationsThe results obtained offer new action plans for Islamic social financial institutions to better plan the offered qardhul hassan financing to society at large.Originality/valueThere are two originalities drawn from this study. First, this study is a pioneering work in Malaysia examining the importance of qardhul hassan financing in the time of COVID-19. Second, this study used the ASE model in examining the breadwinners' acceptability of the financing facility in meeting basic needs and requirements.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2022-0420.