Peer Review Policy & Process

Maʿālim follows a two-stage peer review process to ensure the academic rigor and integrity of published research.

Stage 1: Initial Editorial Review

All submissions undergo an initial editorial review (also known as a Desk Review or Screening Review) conducted by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editorial team member. This stage determines whether the manuscript is suitable for peer review (Stage 2) or should be rejected.

Additionally, quantitative research papers are reviewed by an editor or specialist with statistical expertise before proceeding to peer review. The initial editorial review typically takes 30 working days, though this duration may extend for complex papers or during peak submission periods.

At this stage, submissions are assessed against the following criteria:

Tier 1 Screening

• The manuscript must be related to Quranic and Sunnah studies.
• The manuscript must align with the journal’s aims and scope.
• The submission must adhere to word count guidelines.
• The file format must be appropriate (not an image-based file such as JPG).

Manuscripts failing to meet Tier 1 criteria may be rejected outright, or authors may be provided the opportunity to revise and resubmit.

Tier 2 Screening

• Significant typographical or grammatical errors.
• Engagement with recent literature (must include references within the last 10 years).
• Research must demonstrate rigor and scholarly contribution.
• Clearly defined research question.
• Conceptual framework or theoretical underpinning supporting the study.
• Methodology aligned with the research theory/question.
• Appropriate data collection and analysis methods.
• No introduction of new data in the conclusion.
• Contribution to Quranic and Sunnah studies scholarship.

Tier 2 submissions undergo review by a second editor, who decides whether the manuscript should progress to the peer review stage.

Stage 2: Peer Review

If the paper passes the editorial screening, an associate editor is assigned to manage the peer review process. At this stage, the manuscript is reviewed by at least one independent reviewer with expertise relevant to the study’s focus.

Maʿālim employs a double-blind peer review process, where

• Authors do not know the reviewers' identities.
• Reviewers do not know the authors' identities or affiliations.
• Authors must ensure all identifying information (such as self-citations or institutional affiliations) is removed before submission. Identifying details can be restored after acceptance.

Manuscripts are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Contribution to advancing knowledge in Quranic and Sunnah studies.
• Critical engagement with relevant literature.
• Clarity of research aims and significance.
• Justification of appropriate research methodology.
• Quality of empirical data, analysis, and interpretation.
• Inclusion of implications for research, theory, practice, or policy.
• Quality of writing, structure, clarity of expression, and adherence to Maʿālim formatting and referencing style.

Review Timeline and Decisions

If a manuscript proceeds to peer review, authors will typically receive peer review feedback within four months of submission.

• Manuscripts accepted without revisions may receive an acceptance notification at this stage.
• The majority of submissions require revisions and resubmission before final acceptance.
• Some papers undergo an additional round of peer review after revisions.
• On average, the entire process from submission to publication takes nine months.

Accepted papers may require formatting adjustments, including modifications to figures or tables, to ensure high-quality publication.

The editorial team and reviewers are committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and constructive review process. Authors are encouraged to respect the voluntary contributions of editors and reviewers, who dedicate their time and expertise to maintaining the quality of Maʿālim.