The Journal of Digital Sharia and Contemporary Legal 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 rigor and publication ethics, particularly in the fields of Islamic law, contemporary legal theory, and digitally mediated legal and normative studies.

This policy articulates the journal’s position on plagiarism, the mechanisms used to detect it, and the procedures followed when potential ethical violations are identified. Submission of a manuscript constitutes the authors’ explicit affirmation that the work is original, properly attributed, and free from all forms of plagiarism.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the unauthorized use, reproduction, or representation of another individual’s ideas, language, data, or intellectual output without appropriate acknowledgment. In the context of legal, religious, and socio-legal scholarship, plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following practices:

• Copying text, phrases, legal arguments, or substantial content verbatim without quotation marks and proper citation;

• Closely paraphrasing another scholar’s work, including jurisprudential reasoning or doctrinal analysis, without adequate acknowledgment;

• Reproducing figures, tables, datasets, legal documents, or empirical findings without permission or attribution;

• Presenting established legal concepts, interpretations, or theoretical frameworks—whether classical or contemporary—as original contributions;

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

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

Policy Guidelines

Plagiarism Screening

Every manuscript submitted to the Journal of Digital Sharia and Contemporary Legal Thought undergoes a comprehensive plagiarism screening prior to the peer-review process.

Detection Tool

The journal employs Turnitin, a widely recognized and reliable plagiarism-detection system, to assess textual similarity and identify overlapping content.

Similarity Threshold

Manuscripts with an overall similarity index exceeding 20 percent are subject to further editorial scrutiny. The editorial team recognizes that similarity scores require careful contextual interpretation and do not, in isolation, constitute definitive evidence of plagiarism.

Exclusions from Analysis

To ensure accurate and fair evaluation, bibliographic references, legally cited texts, properly quoted materials, and standard legal or scriptural formulations are excluded from the similarity index calculation.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Before Publication

If plagiarism is identified prior to publication, the manuscript will be rejected. The corresponding author will be formally notified, and in cases involving extensive or deliberate misconduct, the authors’ affiliated institutions may also be informed.

After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal will initiate a formal investigation in accordance with established ethical guidelines. Upon verification of misconduct, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be published. Relevant institutional authorities will be notified as appropriate.

The journal reserves the right to impose additional corrective or disciplinary measures depending on the severity, scope, and intent of the violation.

Implementation Procedures

Initial Screening

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

Editorial Evaluation

Editors carefully review each similarity report. A high similarity score is not automatically interpreted as plagiarism; editors assess whether the flagged material reflects acceptable scholarly conventions—such as citation of legal texts or doctrinal sources—or indicates potential misconduct.

Authorial Accountability

Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts and for accurately citing all referenced sources. Authors must also obtain permission for any copyrighted material included in their submissions.

Handling Allegations

In cases of suspected plagiarism, the journal follows established ethical procedures for investigation and resolution. Authors are granted a fair opportunity to respond to allegations and provide clarification or supporting documentation.

Transparency and Communication

The journal is committed to transparency throughout the plagiarism detection and resolution process. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office with questions or concerns regarding this policy.

Ongoing Policy Review

To remain aligned with evolving ethical standards in academic publishing, this plagiarism policy and its implementation procedures are reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

References

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Guidelines on Handling Plagiarism, including flowcharts for addressing plagiarism in submitted and published articles. Updated August 20, 2024. https://publicationethics.org/guidance?search=plagiarism

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Core Practices. https://publicationethics.org/core-practices

World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Recommendations on Publication Ethics Policies for Journals. https://wame.org/recommendations