Generative AI Policy

Al’Adalah: Journal of Islamic Studies recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools may support scholarly research, academic writing, and editorial work. Their use must comply with the principles of academic integrity, transparency, human accountability, research ethics, and confidentiality. This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the journal's publication process.

 

1. Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI tools to support language editing, translation, manuscript organization, and other appropriate research or writing activities. However, authors must critically evaluate all AI-assisted outputs and remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, scholarly arguments, and integrity of their manuscripts. Authors must independently verify factual claims, citations, quotations, translations, and references. AI-generated references, fabricated sources, inaccurate quotations, misleading interpretations, and unsupported claims are unacceptable. Research involving Islamic texts, historical documents, legal sources, or other primary materials must rely on verifiable sources. AI-generated interpretations or translations must not be presented as authoritative primary-source evidence without appropriate verification.

 

2. Authorship and Accountability

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of scholarly work. All named authors remain accountable for their manuscripts, including content developed with AI assistance. The use of AI does not replace the authors' responsibility to conduct research, evaluate evidence, develop arguments, and comply with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

 

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI in preparing their manuscripts. The declaration should identify the tool used, describe its purpose, and explain the extent of its contribution. AI assistance in manuscript writing, translation, language editing, or organization should be disclosed in the manuscript's Generative AI Declaration. Conventional spelling and grammar checks that do not involve generative AI do not require a separate declaration. When generative AI is used in research design, data collection, coding, analysis, or the production of research materials, authors must also explain its role in the Methods section or another appropriate section. The description must provide sufficient information for readers to evaluate the research procedures. Authors must provide the required declaration during submission. Any identifying information that could compromise double-anonymous peer review should be supplied separately from the anonymized manuscript.

 

4. Research Data, Images, and Confidentiality

Authors must not use generative AI to fabricate research data, interview statements, historical evidence, citations, or findings. AI-generated or modified visual materials must not be presented as authentic documentary or empirical evidence. Any authorized use of AI-generated illustrations or other visual materials must be appropriately disclosed and must comply with the journal's Image Integrity and copyright requirements. Authors must protect confidential research materials, identifiable participant information, unpublished sources, and other sensitive data. Such materials must not be entered into external AI services unless appropriate consent, authorization, and safeguards have been established.

 

5. Use of Generative AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of manuscripts and peer review communications. Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, manuscript excerpts, figures, unpublished research data, or confidential review materials to external generative AI services without explicit editorial authorization, the authors' permission where required, and adequate confidentiality safeguards. Reviewers may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for general language improvement or other limited supporting tasks that do not disclose confidential manuscript information. Any substantive AI assistance in preparing a review must be disclosed to the editor. Reviewers remain personally responsible for their evaluations, scholarly judgments, and recommendations. AI-generated assessments must not replace independent critical review.

 

6. Use of Generative AI by Editors

Editors and editorial staff must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewer identities, review reports, and editorial communications. Unpublished manuscripts or confidential editorial materials must not be uploaded to external AI systems unless appropriate authorization, the authors' permission where required, and adequate safeguards are in place. Editors remain responsible for editorial screening, reviewer selection, the evaluation of peer review reports, and publication decisions. Generative AI must not independently determine manuscript acceptance or rejection. Any authorized use of generative AI by editors or editorial staff to assist with editorial correspondence, copyediting, or publication production must be subject to human oversight and verification. When generative AI is used in copyediting or other production activities that materially affect an accepted article, the journal must inform the authors of its role and provide an opportunity to review the resulting changes. Substantive use of generative AI in editorial tasks must be documented internally. Routine non-generative spelling and grammar checks do not require separate disclosure. The use of AI must not override independent editorial judgment or compromise the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, reviewer identities, review reports, or editorial communications.

 

7. Noncompliance and Editorial Action

The editorial team may request clarification or additional disclosure when concerns arise about the use of generative AI. Suspected misuse will be assessed according to the available evidence and the journal's Publication Ethics policy. Automated AI-detection results alone will not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct. Depending on the seriousness of a substantiated concern, the journal may request corrections, require additional documentation, reject a manuscript, or take appropriate post-publication action. Al’Adalah: Journal of Islamic Studies may review and update this policy in response to developments in scholarly publishing standards and generative AI technologies.