GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) USE POLICY

USRATUNA: Journal of Islamic Family Law is committed to maintaining academic integrity, originality, transparency, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and similar technologies, is permitted on a limited basis, provided that human intellectual responsibility remains paramount.

This policy is guided by the publication ethics principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the requirements for journal accreditation applicable in 2026.

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI to assist with language editing, translation, manuscript organization, preliminary literature searches, and accountable research data processing.

The use of AI must comply with the following requirements:

  • Authors must disclose the use of Generative AI that contributes to the preparation or substantive content of the manuscript.

  • AI tools or systems may not be listed as authors or co-authors.

  • AI must not be used to fabricate or manipulate data, falsify research findings, create fictitious references, or commit plagiarism.

  • Quotations from the Qur’an, hadith, scholarly opinions, fiqh literature, laws and regulations, and court decisions must be verified against their original sources.

  • The use of AI in Islamic Family Law research must protect the confidentiality of informants’ identities, family-related data, case documents, and other personal information.

  • Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, analysis, and conclusions of their manuscripts.

2. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers are prohibited from using Generative AI during the peer-review process, including for evaluating the substance of a manuscript, analyzing its methodology, preparing review comments, or making recommendations regarding editorial decisions.

Reviewers are also prohibited from uploading unpublished manuscripts to Generative AI services. Reviews must be conducted independently, objectively, and with strict confidentiality.

3. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use AI on a limited basis for administrative tasks, formatting checks, and language editing, provided that manuscript confidentiality and editorial data are maintained.

AI must not replace scholarly judgment or editorial decision-making. Decisions regarding the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts remain entirely the responsibility of the USRATUNA Editorial Board.

4. AI Disclosure Statement

Authors who use Generative AI must include an AI Disclosure Statement before the reference list, specifying the AI tool used, its purpose, and the author’s responsibility for verifying its output.

Example:

AI Disclosure Statement
“In preparing this article, the authors used [name of AI tool] to assist with [purpose of use]. All AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors. The authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and overall content of the article.”

If AI is used in the research process or for data analysis, its use must also be described in the Research Methods section.

5. Violations and Enforcement

The USRATUNA Editorial Board reserves the right to investigate suspected misuse of AI through manuscript verification, source checking, and clarification from the authors.

Violations may result in appropriate action, including requests for revision, manuscript rejection, correction, or article retraction, depending on the severity of the violation.

Results from AI-detection tools shall not be used as the sole basis for determining a violation. Any decision must consider the available evidence and the author’s opportunity to provide clarification.

6. Closing Statement

This policy applies to all authors, reviewers, and editors of USRATUNA. It takes effect upon its adoption by the Editorial Board and may be reviewed and updated in accordance with technological developments and evolving standards of scholarly publication ethics.