Editorial Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Purpose and Scope

1. Purpose and Philosophy

The Islam Today Journal recognizes that intellectual brilliance, methodological rigor, and scientific insight are entirely independent of an individual’s native language or fluency in English. Historically, the domination of Anglo-Eurocentric languages in global academic publishing has functioned as a structural barrier—effectively silencing exceptional researchers from non-English-speaking societies and historically colonized regions.

This Journal views Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) as profound equalizing interventions. When used responsibly, these technologies separate a scholar’s intellectual capacity from their second-language proficiency, leveling the global playing field and democratizing the production of knowledge.

2. Permissible Use: Linguistic Translation and Refinement

Scholars are fully encouraged to use Generative AI as a translation, syntax-polishing, and developmental editing tool. Permissible uses include:

• Linguistic Translation: Translating original, self-authored text from the researcher’s native language into English (or the language of instruction/publication).
• Syntax and Style Polishing: Refining grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary to meet technical publication standards, provided the underlying logic remains unchanged.
• Structural Clarity: Reorganizing the researcher’s original arguments to better align with standard academic formatting and discourse conventions.

3. Core Principles of Accountability

To maintain academic integrity while leveraging AI as an equalizer, authors must adhere to two non-negotiable standards:

• The “Idea Ownership” Standard: The human author must be the sole architect and/or producer of the underlying logic, hypothesis, methodology, data analysis, and conclusions. The AI must only act as the linguistic vehicle, never the intellectual source.
• Ultimate Human Responsibility: The author bears 100% accountability for the final text. Authors must meticulously verify that the AI-generated language accurately represents their original data, does not introduce factual errors, and has not hallucinated citations.

4. Disclosure and Transparency Requirements

To ensure the use of AI is treated as a legitimate, professional tool rather than an act of misrepresentation, all submissions utilizing LLMs for language generation must include a Linguistic Equity Disclosure Statement in the acknowledgments or methodology section (you may download and use the Journal’s Template).

Standard Disclosure Template:

“The authors confirm that Generative AI/LLM tools [specify model, e.g., GPT-4] were utilized during the preparation of this manuscript. These tools were used strictly as an equitable linguistic intervention to translate, polish, and refine the authors’ original reasoning, data, and self-authored prose into standard academic English. The core concepts, methodology, and intellectual conclusions are entirely the original work of the authors, who maintain full accountability for the integrity of the content.”

5. Institutional Commitment

Islam Today Journal pledges that no submission will be penalized, downgraded, or biased against simply because an author transparently discloses the use of AI for linguistic equalization. We judge scholars on the merit of their minds, the quality of their data and evidence, and the strength of their reasoning—not the geography of their native language.

Download the AI Policy Document

Response from ITJ editorial board: As AI technology is new and rapidly evolving, ITJ’s stance on this matter remains open to future adjustments. However, the Journal’s core ethical principle requires that submitted work must be the direct product of the author’s own effort, free from conflicts of interest.

Within this framework, ITJ acknowledges that AI has both ethical and unethical applications. Ethical uses include AI as an assistance tool—akin to spell checkers or professional editing services. Just as authors commonly employ editors without disclosure, ITJ does not require authors to disclose AI usage for tasks like grammar correction or structural editing. The author retains full credit and accountability for their work.

However, AI tools can also generate substantive content in response to prompts. In such cases, the AI—not the author—is the primary creator, even if the author later revises the output. For transparency, ITJ requires authors to disclose any AI-generated content and provide details of its use.