Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

MATAN: Journal of Islam and Muslim Society recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including generative AI and large language models (LLMs), are increasingly used in academic research, writing, and publishing. MATAN permits the responsible use of such tools in accordance with the principles of academic integrity, transparency, originality, confidentiality, and research ethics. AI tools must support, rather than replace, human scholarly judgment, critical analysis, and intellectual contribution.

1. Use of AI Tools by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to assist with language editing, grammar correction, translation, formatting, literature exploration, coding, and other appropriate research-support tasks. However, AI tools must not replace the authors’ independent intellectual contribution, critical analysis, interpretation of research findings, or scholarly judgment.

Authors remain responsible for verifying all AI-assisted content, including factual claims, references, quotations, translations, and interpretations. Particular care must be taken when dealing with Qur’anic verses, hadith, Arabic texts, religious concepts, and other primary sources relevant to Islamic studies. AI-generated references, quotations, or religious interpretations must not be presented as authentic without independent verification.

2. Authorship and Accountability

AI tools, including ChatGPT and other generative AI systems, cannot be credited as authors or co-authors. Authorship is reserved for individuals who meet the journal’s authorship requirements and can take responsibility for their scholarly contributions.

Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscripts, including any content produced or modified with AI assistance. The use of AI does not diminish or transfer this responsibility.

3. Disclosure and Transparency

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools when such tools have materially contributed to the development of the manuscript, including the generation or substantial rewriting of text, the synthesis of literature, the interpretation of data, or the production of substantive research content.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used and explain its purpose and scope of use. Where relevant and available, authors should also provide the tool version or model and the date of use. Routine spelling, grammar, and punctuation correction does not ordinarily require disclosure unless it involves substantive rewriting or content generation.

The disclosure should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as an AI-use declaration, acknowledgments, or methodology section, as applicable. Concealing material AI use or misrepresenting AI-generated content as independently verified scholarly work may constitute a breach of publication ethics.

4. Research Data, Privacy, and Confidentiality

Authors must not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data, personally identifiable information, sensitive participant information, or other restricted materials to AI systems unless such use is authorized, ethically permissible, and consistent with applicable data-protection requirements and research protocols.

Authors must ensure that AI-assisted research activities comply with relevant ethical standards, consent requirements, and institutional policies. AI tools must not be used to fabricate or manipulate research data, falsify findings, create misleading evidence, or misrepresent the research process.

5. Use of AI by Reviewers

Peer reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts and all associated materials as confidential. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, unpublished findings, or confidential editorial correspondence to public or third-party AI tools without explicit authorization from the journal and appropriate safeguards for confidentiality.

Reviewers must not delegate the substantive evaluation of a manuscript to AI tools. Peer-review reports must reflect the reviewer’s own expert judgment, critical assessment, and scholarly responsibility. Reviewers remain accountable for the accuracy, fairness, and confidentiality of their reports.

6. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for limited administrative or technical purposes, provided that confidentiality, impartiality, and editorial independence are maintained. AI tools must not replace editorial judgment in decisions concerning peer review, acceptance, rejection, research integrity, or publication ethics.

Editors must not disclose confidential manuscript content or reviewer information to AI systems without proper authorization and safeguards. Editorial decisions must be made by responsible human editors in accordance with MATAN’s editorial policies and publication ethics standards.

7. Violations and Editorial Actions

MATAN reserves the right to request clarification or additional disclosure concerning the use of AI in a submitted manuscript. Where there are reasonable concerns about undisclosed or inappropriate AI use, the journal may conduct further assessment in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.

Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, editorial actions may include requesting revisions or corrections, rejecting a manuscript, issuing a correction or retraction for a published article, or taking other appropriate action consistent with the journal’s publication ethics policies.

8. Policy Compliance

By submitting a manuscript to MATAN: Journal of Islam and Muslim Society, authors confirm that they have complied with this policy and accept responsibility for all content submitted for publication. This policy may be updated as AI technologies, scholarly practices, and publication ethics standards evolve.

The editorial board is responsible for interpreting and applying this policy in a manner consistent with academic integrity, responsible scholarship, and the journal’s commitment to credible scholarly communication.