Publication Ethics Statement

HEUTAGOGIA: Journal of Islamic Education is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal dedicated to advancing research and critical inquiry in Islamic education. The journal serves as an academic platform for the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of empirical research, and the theoretical exploration of the development, transformation, and challenges of education in Muslim societies and comparative educational contexts. The journal upholds rigorous scholarly standards grounded in integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for ethical research principles.

This publication ethics statement defines the responsibilities and ethical obligations of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. The policies are guided by internationally recognized publication ethics standards, including the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics. This statement is based on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. These standards apply to all stages of submission, peer review, editing, publication, correction, and post-publication oversight.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication

The publication of peer-reviewed articles is a foundational element of credible academic knowledge in Islamic education. Each published article reflects the authors' scholarly competence and the institutional environments that support research. Peer-reviewed publications embody the scientific method and contribute to the advancement of educational thought, policy, and practice.

Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by advertising, sponsorship, institutional pressure, or other commercial considerations. Any advertising, reprint services, or other commercial revenue shall have no impact on editorial judgment. The publisher and editorial board are committed to safeguarding academic integrity and ensuring that commercial interests do not compromise scholarly standards.

The journal recognizes its responsibility to maintain a coherent and respected network of knowledge and to preserve the integrity of the academic record for the benefit of researchers, institutions, and society.

Allegations of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, or plagiarism in producing, performing, or reviewing research and writing the article by authors, or in reporting research results. When authors are found to have engaged in research misconduct or other serious irregularities, editors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

In cases of suspected misconduct, the editors and editorial board will follow COPE best practices to resolve complaints fairly and transparently. Upon receiving an allegation, the editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the claim is credible and consistent with the definition of research misconduct. This assessment may include verification of available evidence and similarity reports, evaluation of potential conflicts of interest by the complainant, and consultation with members of the editorial board or independent experts, including methodological or statistical reviewers, as necessary.

If scientific misconduct or substantial research irregularities appear possible, the allegations will be communicated to the corresponding author, who, on behalf of all co-authors, will be requested to provide a detailed written response. The response will be carefully evaluated, and, where appropriate, relevant institutions may be informed to conduct a thorough, independent investigation.

If misconduct is confirmed before publication, the manuscript will be rejected. If misconduct is confirmed after publication, appropriate corrective measures will be implemented, which may include a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, with or without replacement. All corrections and retractions will be clearly linked to the original article to ensure transparency and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that authors, editors, institutions, and the publisher share responsibility for maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and ethical standards of published research.

Handling of Unethical Publishing Behavior

In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, plagiarism, or serious ethical violations, the journal, in collaboration with the publisher, will take all appropriate measures to clarify the situation and amend the scholarly record. This may include the publication of an erratum, clarification, correction, or retraction. The journal will take reasonable steps to prevent the publication of manuscripts involving misconduct and will not knowingly encourage or permit unethical practices.

Complaint and Appeal Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal written justification to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals must include clear academic arguments addressing reviewer comments or editorial concerns. An independent editorial board member or an additional reviewer will review the appeal. The decision following the appeal review is final.
Complaints regarding editorial processes, peer-review conduct, or ethical matters may be submitted to the editorial office. All complaints will be handled confidentially, impartially, and in accordance with established ethical guidelines.

Plagiarism and Similarity Screening

Authors must not use the words, figures, data, or ideas of others without proper attribution. All sources must be cited at the point they are used, and any reuse of wording must be appropriately attributed or quoted in the text.

HEUTAGOGIA: Journal of Islamic Education uses Crossref Similarity Check (iThenticate), Turnitin, and other recognized similarity detection software to identify submissions that overlap with published or submitted manuscripts. Authors may consult the journal’s Similarity Check guidelines for clarification on how similarity reports are interpreted. The maximum similarity index tolerated by the journal is 20 percent, excluding references and properly quoted material. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, whether from published or unpublished sources, will be rejected and may result in sanctions. If plagiarism is identified after publication, the article may be corrected or formally retracted to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Manuscript Preparation

The AI Tool Policy of HEUTAGOGIA: Journal of Islamic Education affirms that Artificial Intelligence may only be used as a supportive instrument for grammar checking, language refinement, readability enhancement, and limited literature classification under strict human supervision, while the generation or rewriting of substantial manuscript content, including abstracts, findings, discussions, tables, figures, images, or synthetic data, is strictly prohibited; all AI usage must be transparently disclosed through a formal AI Disclosure Statement placed in the Acknowledgements or Methods section, authors remain fully responsible for the originality, validity, and integrity of their work, reviewers are prohibited from using AI tools to evaluate or summarize manuscripts under review, and editors must not upload manuscripts or confidential materials to public AI systems, as all editorial decisions must be made exclusively by human judgment in accordance with ethical publishing standards; this policy upholds the principles of scientific honesty, human accountability, transparency, data protection, and intellectual property protection. For a more comprehensive explanation, please refer to the official AI Statement available at: AI Tools Policy.

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over publication decisions and ensures that all editorial determinations are made independently, objectively, and in accordance with recognized ethical publishing standards. Decisions are based on the manuscript’s relevance to the aims and scope of Islamic education, its originality and scholarly contribution, the rigor and clarity of its methodology, compliance with ethical research standards, and its overall intellectual coherence and academic merit. In making such determinations, the Editor-in-Chief may consult members of the editorial board or external reviewers where appropriate. All decisions are also subject to applicable legal requirements, including those related to defamation, copyright infringement, and ethical approval, in line with the principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity promoted by COPE.

Duties of Editors

Responsibilities: The editor plays a vital role in making key editorial decisions on all manuscripts submitted for peer review and publication. The editor is responsible for ensuring that decisions are made independently and in accordance with recognized ethical publishing standards.

Fair Play: The editor evaluates manuscripts solely on their intellectual content and academic merit without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, institutional affiliation, or political philosophy of the authors. Editorial judgment must remain free from commercial influence or personal interest.

Confidentiality: The editor and any editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. All materials received for evaluation must be treated as confidential documents.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Editors must avoid conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used in the editor’s own research without the express written consent of the author.

Transparency Academic: The editor must maintain the transparency and integrity of the academic record and ensure that appropriate procedures are in place for corrections, clarifications, expressions of concern, and retractions when required.

Rectitude: The promotion of research integrity must be preserved at all stages of the editorial process. If any form of research misconduct is suspected, it must be investigated promptly and thoroughly in accordance with established ethical standards. Any irregularities observed during peer review must be addressed with diligence to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly record.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and, through editorial communication with the authors, may also help authors improve the quality, clarity, and rigor of their manuscripts.

Promptness: Any selected reviewer who considers themselves unqualified to review the research reported in a manuscript, or who knows that a timely review will not be possible, must promptly notify the editor and excuse themselves from the review process.

Confidentiality: Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown to or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor. Reviewers must not share information about the review process with anyone without permission from the editor. Reviewers are also required to respect confidentiality in accordance with the journal’s policy regarding the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the peer review process.

Citations: Reviewers should not suggest citations to their own work or that of their associates unless such citations are genuinely necessary for scholarly reasons. Recommendations must not be made with the intention of increasing citation counts or enhancing visibility. Editors reserve the right to remove inappropriate citation suggestions.

Standards of Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively and provide detailed, constructive, and unbiased evaluations of the manuscript's scientific and academic content. Reviewers should express their views clearly and support their assessments with appropriate arguments.

Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published work that the authors have not cited. Any claim that an observation, derivation, or argument has been previously reported should be accompanied by appropriate references. Reviewers should also inform the editor of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and other published work of which they have personal knowledge. They should notify the editor of any ethical concerns identified during the review process, including potential violations related to human or animal subjects.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and must not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers must not evaluate manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, financial, or other relationships with any of the authors, institutions, or organizations connected to the submission. Any such conflicts must be disclosed to the editor, and the reviewer must decline the review where appropriate.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards: Authors of original research must present an accurate, clear, and honest account of the work performed, including an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data must be represented accurately and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation. Manuscripts should contain sufficient methodological detail, references, and transparency to permit replication or verification by other scholars. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Data Access and Retention: Authors may be required to provide raw data for their manuscript for editorial review and should be prepared to make such data publicly available where practicable and ethically permissible. Authors must retain research data for a reasonable period after publication and ensure that data management practices comply with relevant ethical, legal, and institutional standards.

Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original. When the work or words of others are used, an appropriate citation or quotation must be provided. Plagiarism in all forms, including self-plagiarism without proper disclosure, is unacceptable.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication: Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Publication of substantially similar research in more than one journal without proper justification and cross-reference constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

Acknowledgment of Sources: Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have influenced the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of the reported study.

Authorship of the Manuscript: Authorship must be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All individuals who meet these criteria must be listed as co-authors. Contributors who participated in specific substantive aspects of the research but do not meet authorship criteria should be appropriately acknowledged. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all eligible co-authors are included, that no inappropriate authors are listed, and that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript before submission.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects: If the research involves chemicals, procedures, equipment, human participants, or animals that present unusual hazards or ethical considerations, authors must clearly identify these in the manuscript and confirm compliance with applicable ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: All authors must disclose any financial or other substantive conflicts of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of the manuscript. All sources of financial support, sponsorship, or institutional backing must be clearly stated.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works: When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their own published work, the author must promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate fully in correcting or retracting the article as appropriate.

Permissions: Authors who wish to include figures, tables, images, or text passages previously published elsewhere must obtain written permission from the copyright holder for both print and online publication. Evidence of such permission must be provided upon submission. Any material submitted without proper permission will be presumed to be original to the authors.

Ethical Oversight: Research involving human participants, animals, sensitive communities, confidential data, or potentially hazardous materials must comply with recognized ethical standards. Where required, authors must provide evidence of ethical clearance from an appropriate institutional review board or legal authority. If research involves confidential or restricted data, authors must clearly justify how such data are protected and whether limitations apply to public access.

Digital Archiving and Access to Journal Content

The journal ensures long-term digital preservation through institutional repositories and recognized archiving systems. The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and accessibility of published scholarly research.

Editorial Board Accountability

Editorial board members are selected based on academic expertise and are expected to adhere to ethical standards. The board periodically reviews journal policies to ensure alignment with international best practices and evolving ethical standards.

Duties of the Publisher

Guardianship of the Scholarly Record: The publisher has a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the integrity, continuity, and credibility of the scholarly record. As a steward of academic communication, the publisher ensures that all publications adhere to established ethical standards and best practices. The publisher recognizes its role not merely as a distributor of content but as a custodian of the academic record, ensuring that published works remain reliable, accessible, and preserved for future scholarship.

Handling of Unethical Publishing Behavior: In cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication, plagiarism, or other serious ethical violations, the publisher, in close collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate and timely measures to investigate and resolve the matter. Corrective actions may include an erratum, clarification, an expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the severity of the case. The publisher will take reasonable steps to prevent the publication of manuscripts where research misconduct has occurred and will not knowingly support or permit unethical publishing practices.

Access to Journal Content and Preservation: The publisher is committed to ensuring the permanent availability and long-term preservation of published scholarly content. This includes maintaining secure digital archives, collaborating with recognized archiving services, and implementing systems that guarantee continuous access to journal materials.

Safeguarding Editorial Independence: The publisher ensures that editorial decisions are made independently and without influence from advertising, sponsorship, reprint services, or other commercial interests. Editorial staff and management are prohibited from using confidential information obtained through the publication process for personal or financial gain.

Technical, Procedural, and Legal Support: The publisher provides editors with appropriate technical infrastructure, administrative assistance, and, where necessary, legal guidance to support ethical decision-making and compliance with applicable regulations. The publisher may also facilitate communication with other journals or publishers when addressing complex ethical cases.

Education and Promotion of Publication Ethics: The publisher actively promotes awareness and understanding of publication ethics among editors, reviewers, and authors. Guidance, resources, and training related to ethical standards are provided, particularly to support early-career researchers in maintaining integrity in scholarly publishing.

Copyright Notice

All articles published in HEUTAGOGIA: Journal of Islamic Education are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Under this license, users are permitted to share and adapt the material for non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate credit is given to the original author and source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated. Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right of first publication. The license permits broad dissemination for academic and educational purposes while protecting authors from unauthorized commercial exploitation. HEUTAGOGIA: Journal of Islamic Education remains committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing to advance scholarship in Islamic education and its transformative potential across diverse global contexts.