The Journal of Digital Islamic Thought upholds a strict anti-plagiarism policy to preserve the integrity, originality, and credibility of all published scholarship. The journal is committed to disseminating original research that meets the highest standards of academic and publication ethics. This policy outlines the journal’s position on plagiarism, the mechanisms used to detect it, and the procedures followed when potential misconduct is identified. Submission of a manuscript constitutes the authors’ explicit affirmation that their work is original and free from all forms of plagiarism.

Definition

Plagiarism refers to the unauthorized use, reproduction, or presentation of another individual’s ideas, language, data, or creative output without appropriate acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text, phrases, or substantial content verbatim without quotation marks and proper citation.

• Closely paraphrasing another person’s work without adequate acknowledgment.

• Reproducing figures, tables, datasets, or empirical findings without permission or attribution.

• Presenting established concepts, interpretations, or theoretical frameworks as original contributions.

• Engaging in self-plagiarism by reusing significant portions of previously published or disseminated work without clear citation or justification.

All forms of plagiarism constitute serious ethical violations and are strictly prohibited. Authors are expected to accurately and fully credit the intellectual contributions of others in any submitted manuscript.

Policy Guidelines

1. Plagiarism Screening. Every manuscript submitted to the journal undergoes a comprehensive plagiarism screening before peer review.

2. Detection Tool. The journal uses Turnitin, a widely recognized and reliable plagiarism-detection system, to assess textual similarity.

3. Similarity Threshold. Manuscripts with an overall similarity index exceeding 20% are subject to further editorial scrutiny. The editorial team acknowledges that similarity scores require contextual interpretation and, on their own, do not constitute evidence of plagiarism.

4. Exclusions from Analysis. To ensure accurate evaluation, bibliographic references and properly quoted or clearly cited material are excluded from the similarity index.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism.

   • Before Publication: If plagiarism is detected before publication, the manuscript will be rejected. The corresponding author will be notified, and in cases involving extensive or intentional plagiarism, the authors’ affiliated institutions may also be informed.

   • After Publication: If plagiarism is discovered following publication, the journal will initiate a formal investigation. Upon verification, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be published. Notification will be sent to the authors’ institutions.

The journal reserves the right to impose additional corrective actions depending on the severity and nature of the violation.

Implementation Procedures

1. Initial Screening. Upon submission, the editorial office conducts a Turnitin similarity check and generates a plagiarism report.

2. Evaluation Process. Editorial staff carefully review each similarity report. A high similarity score is not interpreted as definitive evidence of plagiarism. Editors assess whether flagged material represents acceptable scholarly conventions or indicates potential misconduct.

3. Authorial Accountability. Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring the originality of their work and for appropriately citing all referenced material. Authors must obtain permission for any copyrighted content included in the manuscript.

4. Handling Allegations. In cases of suspected plagiarism, the journal adheres to established ethical protocols for investigation and resolution. Authors will be granted an opportunity to respond to allegations and provide clarification.

5. Transparency and Communication. The journal is committed to maintaining transparency in all aspects of plagiarism detection and resolution. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office with questions regarding the process.

6. Ongoing Policy Review. To remain aligned with evolving ethical standards in academic publishing, this policy and its implementation procedures are regularly reviewed and updated.

Reference: Adapted from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Guidelines on Handling Plagiarism, including flowcharts for addressing plagiarism in submitted and published articles, and guidance on acceptable levels of duplication and text recycling (updated August 20, 2024). Available at: https://publicationethics.org/guidance?search=plagiarism