Artificial Intelligence Policy

Policy on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Publishing

1. General Principles

Dakwatul Islam recognizes the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), in academic research and scholarly publishing. The journal acknowledges that AI-assisted technologies may support academic writing, language editing, translation, data processing, and other research-related activities.

However, the use of AI must comply with the principles of academic integrity, transparency, originality, accountability, and publication ethics.

Dakwatul Islam permits the responsible use of AI-assisted technologies, provided that such use does not compromise the authenticity, reliability, originality, and scholarly contribution of the submitted manuscript.

Human authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted for publication, including any material generated, modified, or assisted by AI tools.

2. Policy on AI Use by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for legitimate academic purposes, subject to the following conditions:

Language Editing and Proofreading: Authors may use AI tools to improve grammar, spelling, sentence structure, academic language, and readability.
Translation Assistance: AI tools may be used to assist with translating academic texts, provided that authors verify the accuracy and meaning of the translated content.
Writing Assistance: AI may be used to support the organization of ideas, improve writing clarity, and assist with manuscript structuring. Authors must ensure that the intellectual content and scholarly arguments remain their own.
Research Assistance: AI tools may assist with literature exploration, research organization, and preliminary information gathering. However, authors must independently verify all information against reliable primary and secondary sources.
Data Analysis and Interpretation: AI-assisted tools may be used for data processing, statistical assistance, coding, or analytical support, provided that the methodology, procedures, and outputs are properly verified and transparently reported.
Figures, Images, and Illustrations: AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials must be disclosed, scientifically accurate, ethically appropriate, and compliant with copyright and licensing requirements.

Authors must not rely on AI-generated content without critical evaluation, verification, and appropriate scholarly judgment.

3. Disclosure and Transparency Requirements

Authors must disclose the use of AI-assisted technologies when such tools have made a substantive contribution to the preparation, analysis, interpretation, or presentation of the manuscript.

The disclosure must include:

The name of the AI tool or platform used.
The version or model, where available.
The purpose and nature of its use.
The specific sections or research activities in which AI assistance was involved.
The extent of human verification and evaluation of the AI-generated output.

The disclosure should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Acknowledgments or Methodology section, depending on the nature of AI use.

Routine spelling correction, basic grammar checking, and conventional word-processing functions do not require a separate AI disclosure, provided they do not involve substantive content generation or alteration.

Failure to disclose substantive AI use may result in editorial clarification, manuscript revision, or other appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.

4. Prohibited Uses of AI

Dakwatul Islam strictly prohibits the following practices:

Listing AI tools, chatbots, or AI platforms as authors or co-authors.
Using AI to fabricate or falsify research data, findings, references, citations, or scholarly evidence.
Presenting AI-generated arguments, interpretations, or research findings as independently verified scholarly contributions without appropriate evaluation.
Using AI-generated references without verifying the existence, authenticity, and relevance of the cited publications.
Generating or manipulating research images, figures, or visual evidence in ways that misrepresent the original data or research findings.
Using AI to produce substantial portions of a manuscript without meaningful intellectual contribution, critical evaluation, and accountability from the human authors.
Using AI to conceal plagiarism, duplicate publication, research misconduct, or other violations of academic integrity.
Uploading copyrighted or confidential materials to AI platforms without appropriate authorization.

Any violation of these provisions may be treated as a breach of publication ethics.

5. Authorship and Accountability

AI tools, including ChatGPT and other Large Language Models, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Dakwatul Islam.

Authorship is reserved exclusively for human contributors who meet accepted scholarly authorship criteria and can take responsibility for their contributions.

Authors are fully accountable for:

The accuracy and reliability of all manuscript content.
The originality of the research and scholarly arguments.
The validity of data, references, citations, and research findings.
The proper acknowledgment of intellectual contributions and sources.
The ethical and transparent use of AI-assisted technologies.
Compliance with the journal's publication ethics and research integrity standards.

The use of AI does not transfer or reduce the authors' academic, ethical, or legal responsibilities.

6. Policy on AI Use by Reviewers

Peer reviewers must maintain the confidentiality, independence, and integrity of the peer-review process.

Therefore:

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, unpublished research findings, or confidential review materials to public or third-party AI platforms.
Reviewers must not use AI tools to generate substantive peer-review reports or replace their independent scholarly assessment.
Reviewers must independently evaluate the manuscript's originality, methodology, theoretical contribution, research findings, and academic significance.
Any proposed use of AI-assisted technologies in the review process requires prior authorization from the editorial board and must ensure confidentiality and data protection.
Reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, and scholarly quality of their review reports.

7. Policy on AI Use by Editors

Editors and editorial staff must uphold confidentiality, impartiality, and accountability throughout the editorial process.

The use of AI-assisted technologies by editors is permitted only for appropriate administrative or editorial support, provided that:

Confidential manuscripts and personal information are not disclosed to unauthorized AI platforms.
AI tools do not replace editorial judgment or independent publication decisions.
Editorial decisions remain based on scholarly merit, peer-review reports, research integrity, and the journal's editorial policies.
Any substantive AI-assisted editorial activity is subject to appropriate transparency and accountability.
Editors maintain responsibility for all editorial communications and decisions.

8. Editorial Assessment and Actions

Dakwatul Islam reserves the right to assess the responsible use of AI at any stage of the editorial and publication process.

If inappropriate or undisclosed AI use is suspected, the editorial board may:

Request an explanation or clarification from the authors.
Request disclosure of the AI tools and the nature of their use.
Require corrections or revisions to the manuscript.
Request supporting evidence or research documentation where necessary.
Reject the manuscript if serious ethical violations are established.
Issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction for published articles when justified by the findings.

AI detection software or automated detection reports will not be considered conclusive evidence of misconduct on their own. Any editorial action must be based on an assessment of the available evidence and relevant publication ethics principles.

9. Post-Publication Responsibilities

If inappropriate AI use, fabricated information, manipulated data, or other AI-related ethical violations are identified after publication, Dakwatul Islam will investigate the matter in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.

Depending on the severity and findings of the investigation, the journal may issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction notice to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

10. Commitment to Responsible AI Use

Dakwatul Islam supports the responsible and ethical integration of AI technologies in scholarly communication. Nevertheless, AI must remain a supporting tool and must never replace human intellectual responsibility, critical thinking, scholarly judgment, or research integrity.

This policy applies to all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff involved in the submission, evaluation, and publication of manuscripts in Dakwatul Islam.

By submitting a manuscript to Dakwatul Islam, authors acknowledge and agree to comply with this Artificial Intelligence Policy.

Editorial Board
Dakwatul Islam