Generative AI Policies

These policies were initially triggered by the rise of generative AI* and AI-assisted technologies, which were expected to increasingly be used by researchers and have now been updated to reflect evolving good practice. These policies aim to provide greater transparency and guidance to authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and contributors of Islamic Society and Education Nexus. Our editorial board will continue to monitor developments in this area and will adjust or refine policies as appropriate to maintain the intersection of traditional values and technological innovation.

For Authors

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in manuscript preparation - an overview

Islamic Society and Education Nexus recognizes the potential of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI Tools”), when used responsibly, to help researchers work efficiently, gain critical insights fast, and achieve better outcomes in the study of Islamic education and social dynamics. Increasingly, these tools are helping researchers to synthesize complex literature, identify research gaps, and provide tailored support for language and readability.

Authors preparing a manuscript for our journal can use AI Tools to support them. However, these tools must never be used as a substitute for human critical thinking, expertise, and evaluation. AI Tools should always be applied with human oversight and control.

Ultimately, authors are responsible and accountable for the contents of their work. This includes accountability for:

Accuracy and Verification: Carefully reviewing and verifying the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and impartiality of all AI-generated output (including checking sources, as AI-generated references can be incorrect or fabricated).
Authenticity: Editing and adapting all material thoroughly to ensure the manuscript represents the author’s authentic and original contribution and reflects their own analysis and interpretation of Islamic educational frameworks.
Transparency: Ensuring the use of any AI-based tools is made clear and transparent to readers via a disclosure statement upon submission.
Legal and Ethical Compliance: Ensuring the manuscript safeguards data privacy, intellectual property, and other rights by checking the terms and conditions of any AI Tool used.

Responsible Use and Disclosure

Authors must ensure the privacy and confidentiality of their data and inputs. Images that duplicate copyrighted material or real people must not be generated.

Disclosure Requirement: Authors should disclose the use of AI Tools in a separate AI declaration statement in their manuscript upon submission. This statement will appear in the published work, documenting the tool's name, purpose, and the extent of oversight.
Authorship: Authors should not list AI Tools as an author or co-author. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be performed by humans.

Figures, Images, and Artwork

We do not permit the use of Generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts (e.g., enhancing or removing features). The only exception is if the use of AI is part of the research design or methods (such as AI-assisted instructional media design). In such cases, the use must be described in a reproducible manner in the Methods section.

For Reviewers

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the peer review process

When invited to review for Islamic Society and Education Nexus, the manuscript must be treated as a confidential document.

Confidentiality: Reviewers should not upload a submitted manuscript or any part of it into a generative AI tool, as this violates the authors’ proprietary rights and may breach data privacy.
Original Assessment: Peer review is at the heart of our scholarly nexus. Generative AI should not be used to assist in the scientific review of a paper, as the critical assessment needed is outside the scope of this technology. The reviewer is personally accountable for the content of the review report.

For Editors

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the editorial process

Document Integrity: Editors should not upload submitted manuscripts into generative AI tools to maintain confidentiality. This requirement extends to all editorial communications and decision letters.
Human Decision-Making: Managing the editorial evaluation of a scientific manuscript implies responsibilities that can only be attributed to humans. AI should not be used by editors to assist in the evaluation or decision-making process, as it risks generating biased or incorrect conclusions. The editor is responsible and accountable for the final decision.

Publication Process

Our use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in the publication process As part of our commitment to fostering a modern "nexus" for research, we explore innovative ways to improve the publication process while preserving trust.

Editorial Support: Our editors may use AI-assisted tools for technical checks, such as adherence to submission guidelines, completeness, and research integrity (e.g., plagiarism detection).
Human Oversight: We are committed to ensuring that human oversight remains at the core of decision-making. AI tools serve only as a support mechanism to empower our experts.

*Generative AI refers to technologies like ChatGPT, Gemini, DALL-E, etc., that produce text, imagery, or synthetic data