AI TOOLS USAGE POLICY
AI TOOLS USAGE POLICY
Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law
1. Introduction
Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law recognizes the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic research, writing, translation, editing, data analysis, and scholarly publishing. AI technologies may provide useful assistance to authors and researchers; however, their use must not compromise academic integrity, originality, transparency, research ethics, or scholarly accountability.
This policy establishes the principles governing the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools in manuscripts submitted to and published by Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law.
The use of AI must remain under meaningful human oversight. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scholarly validity of their manuscripts.
2. Definition of AI Tools
For the purposes of this policy, AI tools refer to software, platforms, or systems that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, large language models (LLMs), or related technologies to generate, edit, translate, summarize, analyze, or otherwise process academic content.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
ChatGPT and other OpenAI models;
Google Gemini;
Claude;
Microsoft Copilot;
DeepSeek;
Perplexity;
Grammarly and similar AI-assisted writing tools;
DeepL and AI-based translation tools;
AI-assisted literature-search and reference-management tools; and
AI systems used for data analysis, visualization, and other research purposes.
The examples above are illustrative and not exhaustive.
3. Acceptable Use of AI Tools
Authors may use AI tools for limited and appropriate purposes, provided that such use does not replace the authors' intellectual contribution, scholarly judgment, or responsibility.
Permissible uses include:
1.correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax;
2.improving language clarity, readability, and academic style;
3.assisting with translation, provided that the translation is carefully verified by the authors;
4.conducting preliminary literature searches and identifying relevant keywords or sources;
5.formatting references and citations;
6.assisting with data analysis, coding, or visualization under appropriate human supervision; and
7.assisting with other technical or editorial tasks that do not replace the author's scholarly reasoning.
Authors remain responsible for reviewing and verifying all AI-assisted outputs before submission.
4. Prohibited Use of AI Tools
AI tools must not be used to:
1.generate an entire manuscript or substantial portions of scholarly content without meaningful human intellectual contribution and critical revision;
2.fabricate or falsify data, research findings, evidence, quotations, or references;
3.generate fabricated or unverifiable scholarly sources;
4.manipulate citations, references, or research findings;
5.conceal plagiarism through AI-generated paraphrasing;
6.generate unsupported legal arguments or conclusions;
7.misrepresent AI-generated content as independent human scholarship where disclosure is required; or
8.otherwise violate academic integrity, research ethics, copyright, or applicable publication standards.
5. Special Requirements for Islamic Legal Research
Because Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law publishes research concerning Islamic law, authors must exercise particular caution when using AI tools in relation to Islamic legal and religious sources.
AI tools must not be regarded as authoritative sources of Islamic law.
All AI-assisted references to the following must be independently verified by the authors against reliable primary or authoritative sources:
the Qur'an;
Hadith;
Tafsir;
Fiqh;
Uṣūl al-Fiqh;
Qawāʿid Fiqhiyyah;
Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah;
classical Islamic legal works;
contemporary fatwas;
opinions of Muslim jurists;
statutes and regulations;
judicial decisions; and
other legal or scholarly authorities.
Authors must verify the accuracy of quotations, translations, attributions, edition information, volume and page numbers, Hadith references, legal provisions, and judicial decisions.
AI-generated information must never be cited as an authoritative substitute for the original source.
6. Qur'anic Verses and Hadith
Particular care is required when AI tools are used in relation to Qur'anic verses and Hadith.
Authors must independently verify:
the Arabic text;
surah and verse numbers;
Hadith wording;
Hadith sources;
Hadith numbers where applicable;
Hadith grading where relevant; and
scholarly interpretations.
An AI-generated statement that a particular Hadith is authentic, weak, or fabricated must not be accepted without verification from reliable Hadith scholarship.
7. Classical Islamic Legal Sources
When AI tools are used to identify or discuss classical Islamic legal works or the opinions of jurists, authors must verify the information against the original work or a reliable scholarly edition.
Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of:
the scholar's name;
the title of the work;
the legal opinion attributed to the scholar;
the Arabic quotation;
the edition used;
volume and page numbers; and
the interpretation of the legal opinion.
Fabricated quotations, references, page numbers, or scholarly attributions constitute a serious breach of academic integrity.
8. Authorship and AI
AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law.
Authorship is reserved exclusively for human researchers who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work and who can take responsibility for its content.
AI systems cannot:
take responsibility for a manuscript;
approve the final version;
respond to editorial inquiries;
declare conflicts of interest; or
accept responsibility for research integrity.
9. Disclosure of AI Use
Authors must transparently disclose substantive use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscripts.
The disclosure should identify:
1.the name of the AI tool;
2.the version or model, where available;
3.the developer or provider;
4.the purpose of its use; and
5.the extent of its use.
For example:
Declaration of AI Tool Usage: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [AI tool name, version/model] developed by [developer] to assist with [language editing/translation/data analysis/literature exploration/etc.]. All AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed and independently verified by the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scholarly content of the manuscript.
Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation assistance may be considered routine language editing and need not necessarily be disclosed unless the AI tool was used more substantially.
10. Placement of AI Disclosure
The appropriate location of the disclosure depends on the nature of AI use.
Language editing or translation: Acknowledgments or a dedicated Declaration of AI Tool Usage.
Data analysis, coding, visualization, or research methodology: Methods/Methodology section.
Substantive generative AI assistance: A dedicated Declaration of AI Tool Usage is recommended.
11. AI Use by Reviewers
Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts submitted for peer review.
Reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, research data, reviewer comments, or other confidential materials to publicly accessible or commercial generative AI systems without explicit authorization from the journal.
AI tools must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly judgment.
Reviewers remain responsible for conducting objective, fair, confidential, and academically rigorous peer review.
12. AI Use by Editors
Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for limited administrative or editorial purposes, provided that confidentiality, intellectual property, data protection, and publication ethics are maintained.
AI tools must not independently determine:
acceptance or rejection of a manuscript;
peer-review outcomes;
editorial decisions; or
the scholarly validity of an author's argument.
Final editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial team.
13. Verification and Human Oversight
Authors must carefully review all AI-assisted outputs because AI systems may generate inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, biased, or fabricated information.
AI-generated content must therefore be subjected to appropriate human verification before publication.
The journal emphasizes the principle of:
Human Responsibility, Scholarly Integrity, Transparency, Verification, and Academic Originality.
14. AI Detection
Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law may use appropriate technological tools and human editorial assessment to identify potentially inappropriate or undisclosed use of AI.
However, AI-detection software alone will not be considered conclusive evidence of misconduct because such technologies may produce false positives and false negatives.
Any concern regarding inappropriate AI use will be evaluated through human editorial judgment and, where necessary, communication with the authors.
15. Consequences of Non-Compliance
Undisclosed, inappropriate, or unethical use of AI may constitute a violation of the journal's publication ethics.
Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the journal may:
1.request clarification or revision;
2.require appropriate disclosure;
3.reject the manuscript;
4.suspend the review or publication process;
5.issue a correction or editorial notice;
6.retract a published article; or
7.refer serious cases of suspected academic misconduct to the author's affiliated institution or other appropriate authorities.
16. Publication Ethics
This policy forms part of the publication ethics framework of Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law and should be read together with the journal's policies concerning:
Publication Ethics;
Peer Review Process;
Plagiarism;
Authorship and Contributorship;
Copyright;
Retraction and Correction; and
Research Integrity.
The policy is informed by internationally recognized principles of responsible scholarly publishing, including relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
17. Policy Review
Because AI technologies and scholarly publishing practices continue to develop, Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law reserves the right to periodically review and update this policy.
Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with the version of this policy applicable at the time of their participation in the publication process.
18. Final Statement
Tabayyanu: Journal of Islamic Law supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence as an assisting technology in academic research and scholarly communication.
However, AI must not replace human intellectual contribution, critical reasoning, legal analysis, interpretation of Islamic sources, or scholarly responsibility.
The use of AI is permitted as a tool; accountability for scholarship remains entirely human.
