Peer Review Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Islamic Research follows a double-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality, academic integrity, and objectivity of the articles it publishes. The journal also follows an open access policy, and all published articles are freely accessible to readers.

Acknowledgment

The submitted manuscript is acknowledged within 5 working days upon receipt.

Initial Editorial Screening

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are first screened by the editorial team to determine whether they fall within the journal's scope and meet basic requirements for academic quality, originality, ethical standards, structure, and formatting. Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's basic requirements or fall outside its scope may be rejected at this stage without being sent for external review.

Number and Selection of Reviewers

Each manuscript that passes the initial editorial screening is typically sent to two independent reviewers. The review process takes a maximum of two months. Reviewers are selected on the basis of their academic qualifications, subject expertise, research experience, and familiarity with the topic or methodology of the submitted manuscript.

The journal maintains a panel of qualified scholars, researchers, and experts in relevant fields. Reviewers are selected according to the subject matter of each manuscript to ensure that the article is evaluated by appropriate specialists.

How long does the review process take?

Typically, the manuscript is reviewed within six weeks. If the referees' reports contradict one another or a report is unreasonably delayed, further expert opinion is sought. Referees may request more than one revision of a manuscript.

Double-Blind Review

The journal operates a double-blind peer-review system, under which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process.

Before a manuscript is sent to reviewers, the names, affiliations, and other identifying information of the author(s) are removed from the manuscript and from the files provided to the reviewers. Reviewers are not informed of the identity of the author(s). Likewise, the identities of reviewers are not disclosed to the author(s) or to other reviewers at any stage of the review process.

Review Process

Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts objectively and independently, taking into consideration, where applicable:

originality and significance of the research;

clarity of the research problem, objectives, and questions;

appropriateness of the methodology and research design;

quality and adequacy of the literature/relevant sources;

accuracy and coherence of analysis and argumentation;

contribution of the manuscript to the relevant field of Islamic studies and related disciplines;

clarity, organization, and academic quality of the presentation; and

ethical considerations and proper acknowledgement of sources.

Reviewers provide written comments and recommendations to assist the editor in reaching a publication decision and, where appropriate, to help authors improve their manuscripts.

Editorial Decision

Based on the reviewers' reports and the editor's assessment, a manuscript may be:

Accepted;

Accepted subject to major/minor revisions;

Revised and resubmitted for further review; or

Rejected.

Where the two reviewers provide substantially different recommendations, the editor may seek clarification, request an additional independent review, or make a decision based on the reviewers' comments and the overall academic assessment of the manuscript.

The final decision regarding publication rests with the Editor/Editorial Board and is based on the manuscript's academic quality, the reviewers' assessments, and the journal's editorial standards.

Revision and Re-Review

When revisions are requested, authors are expected to address the reviewers' comments carefully and provide a clear response explaining how each substantive comment has been addressed. A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation, particularly where major revisions have been requested.

Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

Reviewers are required to treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. They must not disclose, reproduce, use, or share any part of a manuscript or its contents for personal or professional purposes before publication.

Reviewers are also expected to declare any potential conflict of interest that could affect the impartiality of their assessment. A reviewer who has a personal, professional, institutional, or financial conflict of interest with the author(s) or the research should decline the review assignment.

The journal expects all reviewers to provide fair, objective, constructive, and timely assessments.

Through this structured, double-blind peer-review process, the Pakistan Journal of Islamic Research seeks to maintain high standards of scholarly quality, academic integrity, transparency, and impartiality in its publication.