Tarbiya Islamica

Tarbiya Islamica: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam is committed to maintaining research integrity, publication ethics, and an accurate scholarly record in the field of Islamic education and related disciplines. Allegations concerning submitted manuscripts or published articles will be handled fairly, objectively, confidentially, and on the basis of available evidence, with reference to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

An allegation does not, in itself, establish misconduct. The parties concerned will be given an appropriate opportunity to provide explanations and supporting evidence before an editorial decision is reached.

1. Scope

This policy covers allegations of fabricated data or sources, falsification of data and research findings, plagiarism, undisclosed duplicate publication, authorship manipulation, peer-review manipulation, and violations of ethical requirements concerning research participants. The journal also addresses allegations of undisclosed relevant conflicts of interest and other practices that may compromise research or publication integrity.

In Islamic education research, differences in religious interpretation, educational approaches, schools of thought, theoretical perspectives, or scholarly conclusions do not, in themselves, constitute misconduct. Assessment focuses on the honest use of sources, accurate reporting, appropriate attribution, methodological transparency, and the integrity of the research process.

2. Reporting Allegations

Authors, reviewers, readers, institutions, and other parties may report suspected misconduct through the official contact channels provided by Tarbiya Islamica: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam.

Reports should identify the relevant manuscript or published article, describe the concern specifically, indicate the relevant passages or materials, and include available supporting evidence, such as comparative sources, research documents, or verifiable links.

Complainants are encouraged to provide contact information to facilitate clarification. Anonymous reports may also be considered when they contain sufficiently specific and verifiable information. The journal may request further explanation or evidence before proceeding with an assessment.

3. Initial Assessment

The editor conducts an initial assessment of the relevance of the allegation, the adequacy of the supporting evidence, and the potential implications for the reliability or integrity of the manuscript or article.

This assessment may involve comparing sources, examining submission records, reviewing relevant research materials, and consulting individuals with appropriate expertise.

Similarity-checking software may be used as an assessment tool. However, a similarity score alone does not establish plagiarism. The editor will consider the context, the nature of the material used, citation practices, attribution, and whether the similarities indicate inappropriate use of another person's work.

4. Clarification and Opportunity to Respond

Where sufficient grounds exist for further examination, the editor will contact the authors or other relevant parties and explain the matters requiring clarification.

Authors may be asked to provide research data, research records, original sources, methodological documentation, ethics approval documentation, evidence of informed consent where applicable, or other relevant materials.

The parties concerned will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond within a timeframe specified by the editor. Additional clarification may be requested if the response is incomplete or insufficient.

Failure to respond does not automatically establish misconduct. Nevertheless, the journal may proceed with its assessment on the basis of the available evidence when a party fails to respond within the specified timeframe.

5. Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest

Reports, supporting materials, correspondence, and assessment records will be handled confidentially and shared only with individuals whose involvement is necessary to resolve the case.

The identity of the complainant will be protected as far as reasonably possible, subject to the requirements of a fair assessment and applicable legal or institutional obligations.

Editors or other individuals with a relevant conflict of interest must not participate in decisions concerning the case. If an allegation involves an editor, responsibility will be transferred to another editor or an appropriately appointed independent person who has no conflict of interest.

Independent expert assessment may be sought where necessary to ensure an impartial and evidence-based evaluation.

6. Coordination with Institutions

Tarbiya Islamica: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam is responsible for editorial decisions and maintaining the accuracy of its publication record. However, formal investigations into research conduct or the behaviour of researchers may require the authority of the relevant institutions.

Where a concern cannot be resolved through editorial clarification or requires a formal investigation, the journal may contact the institution where the research was conducted, the authors’ affiliated institutions, or another competent body.

The journal may request relevant investigation findings and take them into account alongside the available evidence and responses from the parties concerned. Nevertheless, the journal may take appropriate editorial action to protect readers when sufficient evidence establishes a problem with the publication, even if a formal institutional investigation has not concluded.

7. Measures During Assessment

For unpublished manuscripts, the journal may suspend peer review, editorial processing, or publication until the concern has been adequately examined.

For published articles, the journal may consider issuing an expression of concern when serious questions about integrity or reliability remain unresolved, the available evidence is inconclusive, or an investigation is ongoing.

An expression of concern informs readers about unresolved issues and does not constitute a definitive finding of misconduct. The journal will review the matter when adequate evidence or investigation findings become available and will publish an appropriate follow-up where necessary.

8. Decisions and Follow-Up Actions

The journal’s response will reflect the nature of the concern, the strength of the evidence, and the implications for the integrity and reliability of the publication.

Possible outcomes include:

• Closing the case: When the allegation lacks sufficient supporting evidence or has been satisfactorily explained.

• Requesting revisions or rejecting a manuscript: When concerns about an unpublished manuscript can be addressed through revision or when the manuscript does not meet the journal’s ethical or scholarly requirements.

• Publishing a correction: When an error can be corrected without undermining the overall reliability of the article.

• Issuing or updating an expression of concern: When serious issues remain unresolved or further investigation is required.

• Retracting an article: When sufficient grounds exist under the journal’s correction and retraction policy and relevant COPE guidance.

Retraction serves to correct the scholarly record and does not necessarily indicate intentional misconduct. Errors that render findings unreliable may also warrant retraction.

Correction, expression-of-concern, and retraction notices will explain the reasons for the editorial action and be linked to the affected article. Retracted articles will generally remain available with their retracted status clearly identified, preserving the publication record, except where exceptional circumstances require removal of content.

9. Communication, Documentation, and Appeals

The journal will securely maintain records of reports, supporting evidence, correspondence, assessment procedures, and decisions. Access to these records will be restricted to authorized parties.

Relevant parties will be informed of the progress or outcome of the assessment to the extent possible without compromising confidentiality, the fairness of the process, or applicable legal and institutional obligations. The time required to resolve a case will depend on its complexity and the need to coordinate with other parties.

A party wishing to challenge an editorial decision may submit an appeal through the journal’s official contact channels, providing clear reasons and any additional evidence supporting the appeal.

Appeals will be considered by an individual without a relevant conflict of interest and, wherever possible, someone who was not involved in the original decision. A case may be reopened if material new evidence becomes available that could affect the original assessment or decision.

10. Commitment to Research and Publication Integrity

Tarbiya Islamica: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam is committed to handling allegations of research and publication misconduct responsibly, consistently, and transparently. All cases will be assessed with due consideration for fairness, confidentiality, academic freedom, and the protection of the scholarly record.

The journal will take proportionate action based on available evidence and relevant publication ethics guidance. Through this policy, the journal seeks to uphold the credibility of Islamic education scholarship and promote responsible research and publication practices among authors, editors, reviewers, and the wider academic community.