Peer Review Policy

The Online Journal of Research in Islamic Studies (RIS) employs a double-blind peer review system to ensure fairness, objectivity, and academic rigor. Under this model, the identities of authors and reviewers are concealed from one another throughout the review process.

Initial Editorial Assessment

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Office and the Editor-in-Chief (or assigned Handling Editor). At this stage, submissions are evaluated for:

  • Relevance to the journal’s aims and scope

  • Originality and scholarly contribution

  • Compliance with submission guidelines and ethical standards

  • Basic methodological soundness

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be desk-rejected without external review.

External Peer Review

Manuscripts deemed suitable proceed to formal peer review and are sent to a minimum of two independent experts in the relevant field. Reviewers are selected based on subject expertise, academic credentials, and absence of conflicts of interest.

Reviewers are asked to assess:

  • Scholarly quality and originality

  • Methodological rigor and analytical depth

  • Use of sources and engagement with relevant scholarship

  • Clarity of argumentation and structure

  • Ethical compliance

  • Relevance to Islamic studies and the journal’s scope

Reviewers provide constructive comments and a recommendation, typically categorized as:

  • Accept without revision

  • Accept with minor revisions

  • Major revisions required

  • Reject

Editorial Decision

The Editors consider reviewers’ reports carefully but retain full responsibility for the final decision. Authors receive anonymized reviewer comments along with the editorial verdict. Where revisions are requested, authors must address reviewer feedback systematically and resubmit within the specified timeframe.

Timeline

The peer review process typically takes between 2 and 6 months from the date of submission, depending on reviewer availability, the complexity of the manuscript, and the extent of revisions required.

Confidentiality and Ethics

The review process is strictly confidential. Manuscripts, reviewer reports, and correspondence are treated as privileged information. Reviewers must not share, use, or disclose submitted material for personal advantage.

All participants in the review process must declare any potential conflicts of interest. Ethical misconduct, including plagiarism or data fabrication, will be handled according to established publishing ethics standards.

Finality of Decision

The Editor’s decision, based on scholarly assessment and ethical considerations, is final.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The Online Journal of Research in Islamic Studies (RIS) is committed to maintaining transparency, objectivity, and integrity in the publication process. All participants in the editorial and peer review system—authors, reviewers, and editors—must disclose any relationships or interests that could improperly influence their work.

A conflict of interest (COI) exists when professional judgment concerning a primary interest (such as research validity, editorial fairness, or peer review integrity) may be influenced by a secondary interest, whether financial, personal, academic, or ideological.

For Authors

Authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research, interpretation of data, or presentation of findings. These may include:

  • Financial support, grants, or sponsorships

  • Institutional affiliations that may benefit from the findings

  • Personal or professional relationships

  • Intellectual or ideological commitments relevant to the subject

A statement declaring conflicts of interest—or confirming the absence of any conflicts—must be included in the manuscript prior to publication.

For Reviewers

Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Close professional collaboration or competition with the authors

  • Personal relationships

  • Financial or institutional interests related to the work

  • Strong intellectual or ideological positions that may compromise objectivity

Reviewers must inform the Editor immediately if a potential conflict becomes apparent after accepting the review invitation.

For Editors

Editors must recuse themselves from handling submissions where conflicts of interest exist. Situations requiring recusal include:

  • Institutional affiliation with the authors

  • Personal or professional relationships

  • Involvement in the research or funding of the study

  • Any circumstance that may compromise impartial editorial judgment

In such cases, the manuscript will be reassigned to another editor.

Transparency and Management

All disclosed conflicts will be evaluated by the editorial team. When appropriate, conflict of interest statements will be published alongside the article to ensure transparency.

Failure to disclose relevant conflicts of interest may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the publication, depending on severity.

This policy ensures that editorial and scholarly decisions are made solely on academic merit and ethical standards.