Peer Review Process

 

All submissions to the Mutaaddib Islamic Education Journal undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the quality, validity, and academic integrity of the published research. The journal applies a double-blind peer review system, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept anonymous. The review process is conducted by experts in relevant fields who evaluate manuscripts based on scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

1. Initial Evaluation

Upon submission, the editorial board conducts an initial evaluation to ensure that the manuscript aligns with the journal’s aims and scope and complies with publication requirements. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria will be rejected without further review.
Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 30% will be rejected at this stage. The editorial office also checks formatting, citation style, and compliance with the author guidelines. If the manuscript does not meet the required standards, it will be returned to the author for revision and resubmission. Manuscripts that pass the initial evaluation will be forwarded to reviewers.

2. Assignment of Reviewers

The editorial board selects five independent reviewers who possess expertise and experience relevant to the manuscript’s research area. The review process is double-blind; therefore, reviewers do not know the authors’ identities, and authors do not know the reviewers’ identities.
Author names, acknowledgments, and statements of author contributions must be removed from the main manuscript and provided separately in the title page file. The assigned editor then sends review invitations. Reviewers are expected to be affiliated with institutions different from those of the corresponding author and to consider invitations based on their expertise, potential conflicts of interest, and other relevant criteria.
The journal is committed to assigning reviewers within two weeks.

3. Review Process

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on scientific quality, originality, validity, and relevance to the field of Islamic education. Reviewers are generally given two weeks to complete their reviews. They provide constructive feedback to help authors improve their manuscripts and may recommend acceptance, rejection, or revision.

4. Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision—acceptance, rejection, or request for minor or major revisions—based on reviewers’ recommendations and the manuscript’s compliance with publication standards.
If reviewers’ evaluations differ significantly, the academic editor may invite an additional reviewer before making a final decision. The decision, along with anonymous reviewer comments, is communicated to the author via the online submission system.
On average, the time from submission to the first decision is one month, and from acceptance to publication is 2–4 weeks.

5. Revision Process

If a manuscript is accepted with revisions, authors are required to revise their manuscript according to reviewer feedback and resubmit it for further evaluation. Resubmitted materials must include:

  • A revised manuscript with highlighted changes, and

  • A rebuttal letter responding to reviewers’ comments.

Authors are given two weeks for minor revisions and four weeks for major revisions. Manuscripts with major revisions will undergo a second round of review by the same reviewers. For minor revisions, additional review may not be required.

6. Publication

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, authors are required to submit the final version, which will undergo copyediting and formatting before publication in the journal.

This peer review process ensures that all manuscripts submitted to the Mutaaddib Islamic Education Journal are evaluated according to the highest standards of scientific integrity, ethical conduct, and academic quality.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement for Peer Review Process

The Mutaaddib Islamic Education Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and preventing publication malpractice throughout the peer review process. The journal adheres to the following principles:

1. Confidentiality

The peer review process is strictly confidential. All information related to submitted manuscripts must be treated as confidential by editors, reviewers, and other involved parties and must not be disclosed to unauthorized individuals.

2. Objectivity and Impartiality

Peer review is conducted objectively and without bias. Editors and reviewers evaluate manuscripts solely on their academic merit, relevance, and quality, without personal interests or conflicts of interest. Constructive feedback should be provided to improve manuscript quality.

3. Timeliness

The journal is committed to timely peer review. Editors and reviewers are expected to complete their evaluations within a reasonable timeframe, and authors are promptly informed of the status and progress of their manuscripts.

4. Transparency and Accountability

The peer review process is conducted transparently and accountably. Reviewers are encouraged to provide clear, well-reasoned, and constructive evaluations, and editors make fair and informed decisions based on reviewers’ comments and editorial judgment.

5. Conflict of Interest

Editors and reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect their objectivity. When conflicts arise, appropriate measures are taken to ensure unbiased evaluation.

6. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

Editors and reviewers are responsible for identifying potential cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or other forms of research misconduct. Any suspected ethical violations are handled in accordance with established ethical guidelines.

7. Peer Reviewer Recognition

The journal recognizes the valuable contributions of peer reviewers and appreciates their expertise and dedication. Appropriate acknowledgment and recognition are provided for their role in maintaining publication quality.

The Mutaaddib Islamic Education Journal is dedicated to preserving the integrity, credibility, fairness, and ethical standards of the peer review process, ensuring the publication of high-quality and trustworthy scholarly research.