Editorial Policies

Focus and Scope

The Ushuluddin Journal is an academic journal that goes through a peer-review process and focuses on scientific development in various branches of Islamic Studies, which facilitates the exchange of ideas as research findings. This journal welcomes contributions from articles in the fields of Al-Qur'an Studies, Prophetic Traditions, Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Law and History.  

The main aim of the journal is to encourage intellectual dialogue and exchange of ideas among global academics and researchers focused on contemporary issues, current debates and innovative approaches in related fields.  

The Ushuluddin Journal also accepts interdisciplinary articles that connect Islamic studies with other scientific disciplines such as religious studies, philosophy, history and sociology. This aims to enrich academic discourse and broaden the horizons of traditional Islamic studies. We invite contributions from academics, both established and starting their careers, who are committed to developing knowledge in these areas.

 

Section Policies

Articles

Checked Open Submissions Checked Indexed Checked Peer Reviewed
 

Peer Review Process

General Information  

1. Publication Criteria  

The Ushuluddin Journal accepts various articles for consideration for publication. The peer-review process is selective, and articles requiring intolerable major revisions will be rejected. To be published in the Ushuluddin Journal, a paper must meet the following four main criteria:  

  • Present strong evidence to support the resulting conclusions. 

  • Has obvious novelty.  

  • Make significant contributions to the development of knowledge in their field.  

  • Open to interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approaches.  

Overall, accepted papers must reflect extraordinary understanding and be able to inspire the development of thought in the field of Islamic studies. Submitted articles must have clear reasons why they are suitable for publication in the Ushuluddin Journal.

2. Review Process  

Every manuscript sent to the Ushuluddin Journal will first be reviewed by the editorial team. Only articles that meet our editorial criteria will proceed to the full peer-review process. Manuscripts that are deemed by the editor to be insufficiently relevant to the journal's focus or inappropriate will be immediately rejected, based on internal input and suggestions from specialist reviewers in the related field.  

Manuscripts that are considered to have potential interest to readers will be sent for further review, by a minimum of two reviewers. The final decision regarding acceptance of the manuscript will be taken by the editor based on the recommendations provided by the reviewers.  

3. Peer-Reviewer Selection  

 Reviewer selection is an important part of the publishing process and is based on various factors, including expertise, reputation, specific recommendations, and our experience in the publication review process. Before sending a manuscript for review, we ensure the suitability and readiness of potential reviewers.  

4. Writing Reviews  

 The main purpose of a review is to provide information to the editor to determine whether a manuscript is worthy of acceptance. Apart from that, the review also functions to provide suggestions to the author on how to improve the manuscript so that it meets editorial requirements. In the case of a negative review, the reviewer is expected to explain the weaknesses of the manuscript to the author so that the rejection decision can be understood, and the author can see in general what needs to be improved. However, this function is secondary, and reviewers are not required to provide detailed or constructive suggestions for manuscripts that do not meet the journal's criteria, as explained in the review request letter from the editor.  

5. Anonymity  

 We apply a double-blind review system, where the author and reviewer do not know each other's identities. Unless a reviewer feels it is absolutely necessary to identify the author, we still prefer that reviewers remain anonymous during and after the review process. 

6. Peer-Review Publication Policy  

All articles submitted to specialist education fields will be selected for a peer-review process. At least two selected reviewers will read and review the submitted article.  

7. Ethics and Security  

Ushuluddin Journal editors may seek input not only from technical reviewers but also regarding other aspects of an article that raise concerns, such as ethical issues or access to data and materials. In some cases, concerns may also include the social implications of publishing an article, including potential threats to security. In these situations, input is usually requested in conjunction with the technical peer-review process. Overall, publishing decisions are the full responsibility of the editor of the journal concerned. 

 

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

 

Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

 The Publication Ethics Statement of Jurnal Ushuluddin is developed based on the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors. This journal adheres to the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors as well as the Code of Conduct for Journal Publishers. The following outlines the essential principles adopted by the journal to ensure the integrity and credibility of scholarly publication.

General Principles of Publication Ethics

 Jurnal Ushuluddin is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all stages of publication. Every submitted manuscript is evaluated objectively based on its academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, which focuses on Islamic studies, Hadith, Tafsir, Islamic thought, and philosophy. Discrimination based on race, gender, religious belief, political view, or institutional affiliation is strictly prohibited.

All parties involved in the publication process—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—are expected to act with integrity, fairness, and responsibility in order to maintain the credibility of academic publishing.

  1. A.     Duties of Editors
    1. Fairness and Independence

 Editors evaluate manuscripts solely on their intellectual content, without regard to the authors’ identity or background. Editorial decisions are not influenced by government policies or institutional affiliations. The Editor-in-Chief holds full responsibility for all editorial content and publication decisions.

  1. Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, or the publisher as appropriate.

  1. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors and editorial board members must not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without written consent from the author. They must recuse themselves from considering manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or institutions.

  1. Publication Decisions

 Every manuscript submitted to Jurnal Ushuluddin is reviewed by at least two qualified reviewers (peer review). The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision on publication based on the reviewers’ recommendations, research validity, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, as well as applicable legal requirements concerning copyright and plagiarism.

 

  1. Ethical Investigation

 In cases of suspected misconduct or ethical violations, the editor, in coordination with the publisher, will conduct a thorough investigation. If misconduct is confirmed, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, including publication of an erratum, retraction, or expression of concern.

 

  1. B.     Duties of Reviewers
  2. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

The peer review process assists the editor in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve the quality of their manuscripts.

  1. Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified to review a manuscript or unable to provide a review within the required timeframe should immediately notify the editor.

  1. Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others without authorization from the Editor-in-Chief.

  1. Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively, providing constructive feedback with clear arguments. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate.

  1. Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published works that have not been cited by the author. Any similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other published work must be reported to the editor.

  1. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must not review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from competitive, collaborative, or financial relationships with any of the authors or institutions connected to the papers. Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used for personal advantage.

  1. C.     Duties of Authors
  2. Reporting Standards

 Authors must present an accurate account of their research and an objective discussion of its significance. Review articles should be comprehensive, and opinion papers must be clearly identified as such. Fabrication or falsification of data constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

  1. Data Access and Retention

 Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to retain such data for at least ten years after publication while ensuring the confidentiality of research participants.

  1. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their work is entirely original and that proper citation is provided when referring to the work or words of others. All forms of plagiarism are strictly prohibited.

  1. Multiple or Redundant Publication

 Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously, as this is considered unethical publishing behavior.

  1. Authorship of the Paper

 Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study. All individuals who have made substantial contributions should be listed as co-authors, while others who contributed indirectly should be acknowledged. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the final version of the paper.

  1. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

 Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial) that could influence the interpretation of their results. All sources of financial support should be acknowledged.

  1. Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects

For studies involving human participants or animals, authors must confirm that all procedures comply with relevant institutional and national research ethics guidelines and that informed consent has been obtained.

  1. Participation in Peer Review

Authors are expected to participate in the peer review process by responding promptly and respectfully to reviewer comments and making necessary revisions.

  1. Fundamental Errors in Published Works

 If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in retracting or correcting the article.

  1. D.    Duties of the Publisher
  2. Handling of Ethical Misconduct

 In cases of alleged research misconduct such as plagiarism, falsification, or duplication, the publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate actions, including investigation, correction, clarification, or retraction.

  1. Access and Archiving

 The publisher ensures the permanent availability and accessibility of all published works by maintaining them in reliable digital archives.

  1. Peer Review and Authorship Policy

All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process by at least two independent reviewers.

  1. Review criteria include relevance, originality, significance, methodological accuracy, and language quality.
  2. Editorial decisions include acceptance, revision, or rejection based on reviewers’ recommendations and editorial judgment.
  3. Authors must actively engage in the revision process and comply with publication ethics standards.

 

Reference

 

This Publication Ethics statement is adapted and aligned with the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and ethical standards widely recognized in academic publishing.


 

 

Author Publication Fees (APC)

The Ushuluddin Journal does not charge any publication fees (free of charge) to authors for each manuscript accepted and published.

 

Plagiarism Screening

PLAGIARISM CHECK  

Articles submitted to the Ushuluddin Journal will be checked using Turnitin software, with a maximum similarity limit of 20%.  

For articles with a similarity level of more than 20%, the editor's actions are as follows:  

  1. If the article has great potential to be published (according to the aim and scope, novelty, and scientific contribution), the editor will ask the author to make revisions.

  2. If the article does not meet the standards (does not meet the aim and scope, lacks novelty, or lacks significant scientific contribution), the article will be immediately rejected.  

TYPES OF PLAGIARISM:  

  1. Word-for-Word Plagiarism: Taking text from another author directly without using quotation marks or providing proper citation.  

  2. Source Plagiarism: Using someone else's idea without giving credit or explicitly citing the source.  

  3. Authorship Plagiarism: Presenting another author's work as if it were your own.  

  4. Self-Plagiarism: Authors publish the same article in more than one journal by recycling their work. In this case, the new article must have significant changes compared to the previous article, and the old article must only be a small part of the new article. This way, readers will get new information inspired by, but still different from, previous articles.  

REFERENCE APP USE  

Manuscripts that are registered must use a reference manager application such as Mendeley or Zotero.