The Journal of Digital Islamic Thought recognizes the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on contemporary scholarly communication. AI technologies—ranging from tools that enhance linguistic clarity to systems supporting data analysis and content preparation—offer substantial advantages for authors and researchers. Nevertheless, their use must be carefully governed to safeguard academic integrity, originality, transparency, and accountability.

This policy articulates the journal’s expectations regarding the ethical and responsible use of AI tools in manuscript preparation. It provides clear guidance, minimizes ambiguity, and aligns with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and its evolving recommendations on AI within editorial and publishing workflows.

Definition of AI Tools

For this policy, AI tools refer to software, platforms, or systems that employ artificial intelligence methodologies—such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), or deep learning—to generate, edit, translate, summarize, or analyze textual, numerical, visual, or audio content.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Generative language models (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and comparable LLMs)

• Writing-enhancement tools such as Grammarly, DeepL Write, and Quillbot

• AI-assisted applications for data processing and visualization

• AI systems are used to create figures, graphs, or statistical representations

• AI-based tools for literature review, citation generation, or document structuring

Acceptable Use of AI Tools

Authors may use AI tools for limited and transparent purposes, provided they comply with the conditions below.

Permissible Uses:

• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation refinement

• Improvements in clarity, tone, and linguistic precision

• Formatting citations and references

• Conducting preliminary literature searches

• Supporting—though not replacing—statistical analysis

• Creating visual aids or illustrations that are ethically sourced and critically evaluated

Prohibited Uses:

AI tools must not be used to:

• Generate entire manuscripts or substantial portions of original scholarly content

• Fabricate, manipulate, or falsify data, findings, or visual materials

• Produce translations without full human verification

• Summarize or paraphrase existing scholarship in ways that risk plagiarism

• Create material that infringes on copyright or uses third-party content without authorization

Author Responsibilities

Authors retain full responsibility for all submitted content, including any material developed with AI assistance. Authors must:

• Ensure accuracy, originality, and reliability of AI-supported content

• Detect and prevent plagiarism, factual errors, hallucinations, or bias

• Properly cite all external materials or AI-suggested sources

• Accept accountability for ethical or factual concerns arising from AI use

• Review, revise, and validate all AI-generated output to meet disciplinary standards

Authorship and AI

AI tools cannot qualify for authorship or co-authorship under any circumstances. Authorship is reserved exclusively for individuals who make substantial intellectual contributions and who can assume full responsibility for the work. Listing AI tools as authors, contributors, or co-authors—including in author notes or contribution statements—is strictly prohibited and may result in rejection or retraction.

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must transparently disclose any AI usage beyond basic language editing. Disclosures must include:

• The name, version, and developer of the AI tool

• A brief description of its purpose and the extent of use

• An affirmation of full authorial responsibility for the resulting content

Placement of Disclosures in Manuscripts

Depending on how AI tools were used, disclosures must be included in one or more of the following sections:

• Methods Section: If AI tools supported data analysis, coding, figure creation, or similar research activities.

• Acknowledgments Section: If AI tools assisted with language refinement, translation, or formatting.

• Dedicated Statement Section: Authors may provide a stand-alone declaration such as:

  “During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [AI tool name, version, and developer] for [describe specific purpose]. All AI-assisted content was thoroughly reviewed and verified by the authors to ensure factual accuracy and scholarly integrity. The authors assume full responsibility for the manuscript’s content.”

Editorial and Peer Review Oversight

Editors and reviewers will evaluate disclosures of AI usage as part of the ethical and methodological review process. If undisclosed, inappropriate, or excessive AI use is suspected, the editorial office may:

• Request clarification, documentation, or revisions

• Reject the manuscript

• Initiate a formal inquiry or notify the author’s institution if misconduct is suspected

The journal does not rely solely on automated detection systems for identifying AI-generated content; all assessments involve human evaluation and direct correspondence with authors.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Non-compliance with this policy may result in:

• Immediate rejection of the submission

• Retraction of the published article

• Notification to the author’s affiliated institution

• Restrictions on future submissions in cases of serious or repeated violations

Appeals and Dispute Resolution

Authors may appeal editorial decisions related to AI usage by submitting a formal, evidence-based written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. The internal ethics committee will review appeals or, when necessary, refer them to an independent COPE advisor.

Use of AI by the Editorial Team

The Journal of Digital Islamic Thought does not employ AI tools to make autonomous editorial or peer-review decisions. Any future use of AI to assist editorial workflows will be disclosed transparently and will remain subject to human oversight and final decision-making authority.

Policy Updates and Author Guidance

This policy will be periodically updated in accordance with developments in AI technologies, emerging ethical challenges, and best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors are encouraged to consult the most recent version before submission and to contact the editorial office for clarification when needed.

The Journal of Digital Islamic Thought supports the responsible integration of technological innovation while maintaining its commitment to rigorous scholarship and ethical publication practices.

Ethical Framework and References

This policy is informed by guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including:

• COPE Core Practices

• COPE Discussion Document on Artificial Intelligence in Decision-Making (2021)

• COPE Position Statement on Authorship and AI Tools (2023)

• COPE Retraction Guidelines, Version 3 (2025)

Reference: Adapted from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Focus on Artificial Intelligence (updated 2025).