Ethics Statement

The Journal of Quran Sunnah Education and Special Needs (JQSS) is a scholarly publication published by the Faculty of Quran and Sunnah Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, and is subject to a rigorous peer review process. The journal strives to maintain the highest standards of publication ethics and takes proactive steps to prevent any form of publication misconduct. Authors submitting original articles to JQSS assure that their work is original and does not contain copied or plagiarized content from other sources, thereby complying with the MyCite Selection Criteria and the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Ethical Guideline for Journal Publication.

Ethical guidelines for publication in peer-reviewed journals are critical to establishing a coherent and highly respected body of knowledge. The publication of an article in the peer-reviewed Journal of Quran Sunnah Education and Special Needs (JQSS) reflects the quality of the authors' work and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles are fundamental to strengthening and disseminating the scientific method. Therefore, it is essential to establish a set of ethical standards expected of all parties involved in publication, including authors, journal editors, reviewers, publishers, and the Society.

As the publisher of JQSS, the Faculty of Quran and Sunnah Studies at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia takes its role in ensuring ethical practices at all stages of publication very seriously. The JQSS recognizes the responsibility to behave ethically and comply with other relevant obligations. 

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Responsibilities of Authors

To maintain the integrity and quality of research publications, authors are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines at all stages of their work. The following guidelines outline the responsibilities of authors:

1. Standards for Reporting:
Authors conducting research and writing reports must provide an accurate and unbiased account of their work. The underlying data should be presented precisely in the paper, with sufficient information and references to enable others to replicate the study. Fraudulent or intentionally inaccurate statements are considered unethical and unacceptable.

2. Data Access and Retention:
Authors must provide the original data related to their manuscript for editorial review and, where feasible, make it publicly available. Additionally, authors must retain raw data for a reasonable period after publication.

3. Originality and Plagiarism:
The Journal of Quran Sunnah Education and Special Needs (JQSS) expects authors to submit entirely original works. Proper citation or quotation is required when using the works and/or words of others. Plagiarism, in any form—including presenting another person’s work as one’s own, copying or paraphrasing substantial parts of another’s work without proper attribution, or claiming research conducted by others—is unethical and unacceptable. Authors should only submit original work that has not been plagiarized, previously published, or under consideration elsewhere. JQSS editors may use plagiarism detection software to check for similarities between submitted manuscripts and existing literature. Submitting fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate information is strictly prohibited. All sources used must be appropriately cited or quoted. For further details, please refer to the JQSS Plagiarism Policy.

4. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication:
Authors should not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in multiple journals or primary publications. Such actions are considered unethical and unacceptable. Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is also prohibited.

5. Acknowledgement of Sources:
JQSS emphasizes the importance of properly acknowledging the contributions of others. Authors must cite publications that have significantly influenced their research.

5. Authorship of the Paper:
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, execution, or interpretation of the research findings. All co-authors who have contributed meaningfully to the research should be listed. Individuals who have contributed to specific aspects of the study should be acknowledged or identified as contributors. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all appropriate co-authors are listed, and that no inappropriate co-authors are included. Additionally, the corresponding author must confirm that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and have agreed to its submission.

6. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest:
Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial or other significant interests that could influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. Furthermore, all sources of financial support for the research must be disclosed in the manuscript.

7. Fundamental Errors in Published Works:
If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, they are responsible for promptly notifying the JQSS editor and cooperating to retract or correct the publication.

8. Hazardous Materials:
If research involves the use of chemicals, procedures, or devices that pose risks, authors must explicitly state these risks in their manuscript.

9. Protection of Human Subjects:
Research involving human subjects must comply with ethical guidelines such as the Declaration of Helsinki or the Belmont Report. Authors must ensure that participants' privacy, confidentiality, and dignity are protected throughout the study. The potential risks to participants must be minimized, and the benefits of the research should outweigh any possible harm.

10. Protection of Animal Subjects:
Research involving animals must adhere to ethical guidelines such as the Animal Welfare Act 2015 and the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Authors must ensure that animals are treated humanely and that pain and suffering are minimized. Animals should be housed in a safe and comfortable environment with adequate access to food and water.

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The Responsibilities of Editors

1. Fair Play
Editors must evaluate submitted manuscripts based on their intellectual content, without discrimination related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnicity, or political philosophy of the authors.

2. Confidentiality

In line with publication ethics, the editor and all editorial board members must uphold strict confidentiality. They should not disclose any information regarding a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisors, and the publisher, as deemed appropriate.

3. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Editors must not use unpublished material from a submitted manuscript for their own research without obtaining explicit written permission from the author.

4. Publication Decision

The Journal of Quran Sunnah Education and Special Needs (JQSS) editorial board is responsible for determining which articles qualify for publication after a rigorous review process. The decision should be based on the significance of the research to readers and researchers, as well as the validity of its findings. Editors must adhere to the journal’s policies and legal obligations concerning libel, plagiarism, and copyright infringement. Collaboration with other editors or reviewers may be sought to facilitate decision-making.

5. Review of Manuscripts

Editors are responsible for assessing the originality of each submitted manuscript. They must establish and implement a fair and appropriate peer review process. The peer review procedures should be clearly explained to authors, indicating which sections of the journal are subject to review. Editors must select reviewers with the necessary expertise and ensure that there are no conflicts of interest.
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The Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

The peer review process supports editors in making publication decisions and assists authors in improving their work through expert feedback.

2. Promptness:

If a selected reviewer feels unqualified to evaluate a manuscript or is unable to complete the review in a timely manner, they should inform the editor and withdraw from the review process.

3. Standards of Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively and without personal criticism of the author. Reviewers must provide clear and well-reasoned arguments to support their evaluations.

4. Confidentiality

All manuscripts submitted for review must be treated as confidential documents. They should not be shared with or discussed among unauthorized individuals unless permitted by the editor.

5. Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Any confidential information or ideas obtained during the peer review process must be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Reviewers should avoid evaluating manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the manuscript.

6. Source Acknowledgement

Reviewers should ensure that relevant published work that has not been cited by the author is acknowledged. If a reviewer identifies an observation, derivation, or argument that has been previously reported, they must provide the appropriate citation. Additionally, if a reviewer is aware of substantial similarities or overlaps between the manuscript under review and another published work, they must alert the JQSS editor.
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Ethics on Post-Publication

Amendments

Authors may request changes to their published works for various reasons. These changes fall into four categories: Erratum, Corrigendum, Retraction, or Addendum.

• Erratum: A formal notification of a significant error introduced by the journal during the production process that may affect the scientific integrity of the publication, the reputation of the authors, or the journal itself.

• Corrigendum: A formal notification of a significant error made by the author(s) that could impact the scientific integrity of the publication, the reputation of the authors, or the journal itself.

• Retraction: A formal notice invalidating the results of a published article. All co-authors must sign the retraction, stating the error and briefly explaining how the article’s conclusions are affected. Retractions are considered if subsequent information, unknown at the time of publication, undermines or invalidates the main conclusions of the article.
If readers believe a published paper should be retracted, they should notify the Editor-in-Chief, who will consult with reviewers to assess whether the new information affects the main conclusions of the published article. The author will also have the opportunity to provide an explanation.

• Addendum: An official notice providing additional details or clarification to a previously published article, usually in response to reader inquiries.
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Penalties and Sanctions

The Journal of Quran Sunnah Studies (JQSS) Editorial Board holds sole responsibility for addressing plagiarism cases. Plagiarism is a serious violation of publication ethics and is considered scientific misconduct. The Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board, and Reviewers play a crucial role in detecting plagiarism in submitted manuscripts. Due to the sensitivity of such allegations, confidentiality must be maintained throughout the process. All details, supporting materials, and outcomes should only be shared with those directly involved in the review process.

Authors must adhere to ethical guidelines and maintain confidentiality in cases of alleged plagiarism, falsification, or other unethical conduct. These cases will be handled according to the JQSS Publication Code of Ethics. If unethical conduct is confirmed, the manuscript will be rejected, or if already published, it will be immediately withdrawn. Depending on the severity of the misconduct, authors may be banned from submitting articles for one to three years. The journal reserves the right to evaluate cases of plagiarism and redundancy individually.
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Consequences

For Authors:
If plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, or substantial omission is found in a manuscript, it constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. Editors and reviewers must report such misconduct to the Editor-in-Chief, who will take appropriate action and notify the Editorial Board. Possible consequences include:
• A formal notification to the authors.
• Rejection of the manuscript.
• Retraction of the published article, with a notice posted on the journal’s website.
• A ban on submitting to the journal for a specified period.
• Informing the authors' institution about the unethical behavior for further action.

For Editorial Board Members:
The reputation of JQSS depends on the integrity and fairness of its Editorial Board members. If a complaint of misconduct is lodged against an Editorial Board member, the complainant should contact the Editor-in-Chief, who will present supporting evidence to the Editorial Board. If the member is found guilty of unethical conduct, they will be removed from their position, and sanctions similar to those for authors will apply.
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Ethical Guidelines for Human Subjects Research

Researchers conducting studies involving human participants must adhere to ethical principles, including:
• Obtaining prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics committee.
• Submitting evidence of IRB or ethics committee approval with identifying information of participants removed before submission to JQSS.
• Certifying compliance with ethical procedures in manuscript submission.
• Providing a report on how informed consent was obtained or a justification for why consent was not required.
• Ensuring that written consent was obtained for using identifiable data.
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Privacy and Informed Consent for Publication
Protecting the privacy and anonymity of research participants is essential. JQSS respects individuals' rights to anonymity and takes all necessary measures to protect their privacy.

Authors must not disclose identifying information unless it is essential to their research. If such information is provided (e.g., patient data), authors must confirm they have obtained written consent using the JQSS consent form.

JQSS thoroughly reviews submissions for identifying information and patient consent documentation. If identifying information is found without proper consent, the manuscript will not be considered for publication. If such information is discovered after publication, the journal will temporarily withdraw the article and remove any content that compromises participant privacy.