Jurnal Al-Hikmah: Jurnal Dakwah is committed to maintaining the integrity, credibility, and transparency of scholarly research and publication.

The journal recognizes the importance of responding appropriately to allegations of research misconduct involving manuscripts submitted for consideration or articles already published in the journal.

Allegations should be assessed fairly, objectively, and confidentially, with appropriate consideration of available evidence and the rights of all parties.

1. Definition of Research Misconduct

Research misconduct refers to practices that compromise the integrity, reliability, or ethical standards of scholarly research.

Potential forms of research misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Fabrication: Making up research data, findings, observations, or results.
• Falsification: Manipulating research materials, processes, or data in a way that misrepresents the research findings.
• Plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, words, data, or scholarly work without appropriate acknowledgment.
• Duplicate Publication: Publishing substantially similar research in multiple publications without appropriate disclosure or justification.
• Authorship Misconduct: Inappropriately assigning, excluding, or misrepresenting authorship and scholarly contributions.
• Peer Review Manipulation: Attempting to improperly influence or compromise the independence of the peer review process.
• Ethical Violations: Conducting or reporting research without necessary ethical approval, informed consent, or appropriate protection of research participants where required.
• Citation Manipulation: Inappropriately influencing citation practices for purposes unrelated to scholarly relevance.

2. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, readers, researchers, and other interested parties may report concerns regarding suspected research or publication misconduct.

Reports should be submitted through the journal's official editorial communication channels.

Where possible, a report should include:

1. The title or identification of the manuscript or published article.
2. A clear description of the suspected misconduct.
3. Relevant documents, references, or supporting evidence.
4. Information explaining how the concern was identified.
5. Contact information for follow-up, where appropriate.

Allegations should be submitted in good faith and supported by relevant information whenever possible.

3. Initial Assessment

Upon receiving an allegation, the editorial team should conduct an initial assessment to determine the nature and relevance of the concern.

The preliminary assessment may include:

• Examining the information and supporting evidence provided.
• Determining whether the allegation relates to a manuscript or article under the journal's responsibility.
• Identifying whether additional information or clarification is required.
• Considering potential conflicts of interest involving individuals responsible for the assessment.
• Determining whether the matter requires further editorial review or referral to an appropriate institution or authority.

An allegation does not automatically establish that misconduct has occurred.

4. Investigation and Clarification

Where sufficient grounds exist for further consideration, the editorial team may request clarification from the individuals involved in the reported concern.

Authors or other relevant parties should be provided with a reasonable opportunity to respond to substantive allegations before an editorial conclusion is reached.

Depending on the circumstances, the editorial team may consult independent academic experts or request appropriate institutional involvement.

Matters requiring a formal institutional investigation should be referred to the relevant institution or authority when appropriate.

5. Confidentiality and Fairness

Information concerning allegations should be handled with appropriate care and confidentiality throughout the assessment process.

Access to relevant information should be limited to individuals who have a legitimate role in assessing or resolving the matter.

Confidentiality may be subject to necessary disclosures, applicable legal obligations, or appropriate institutional investigation procedures.

All parties should be treated fairly, and editorial conclusions should be based on available evidence rather than unsupported assumptions.

6. Editorial Actions and Outcomes

The appropriate response to a research misconduct concern depends on the nature of the allegation, the available evidence, and the stage of publication.

Possible editorial actions may include:

• Requesting additional information or clarification.
• Requesting revisions or corrections to a manuscript under review.
• Declining a manuscript when substantial ethical or integrity concerns remain unresolved.
• Referring concerns to relevant institutions or authorities.
• Publishing a correction when errors in a published article can be appropriately addressed.
• Issuing an expression of concern when serious questions about the reliability of published research remain unresolved.
• Considering retraction when published findings are unreliable or serious publication integrity concerns justify that action.

Editorial measures should be proportionate to the evidence and the seriousness of the matter.

7. Post-Publication Concerns

Allegations received after publication should be considered with appropriate attention to the integrity of the scholarly record.

If a significant error or misconduct concern is substantiated, the editorial team should consider the appropriate corrective action.

Corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions should be clearly identified and linked to the affected publication when applicable.

The original publication record should be preserved where appropriate to maintain transparency and scholarly accountability.

8. Appeals and Reconsideration

Individuals affected by an editorial decision concerning alleged misconduct may submit relevant clarification or supporting information for further consideration.

Requests for reconsideration should identify the decision being questioned and provide relevant reasons or evidence.

Where appropriate, reconsideration should involve individuals without a conflict of interest in the matter.

9. Responsibilities of the Editorial Team

The editorial team is expected to support responsible handling of research misconduct concerns through impartiality, professional judgment, and appropriate documentation.

Editorial responsibilities include:

• Considering credible concerns regarding research integrity.
• Maintaining appropriate documentation of significant editorial actions.
• Managing relevant conflicts of interest.
• Seeking appropriate expertise or institutional assistance when necessary.
• Protecting the reliability and integrity of the journal's publication record.

10. Reporting and Further Information

Individuals wishing to report potential research misconduct or request clarification may contact the editorial office of Jurnal Al-Hikmah: Jurnal Dakwah.

Editorial Contact: Contact the Editorial Team

Additional guidance on responsible publication practices is available from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) .