Plagiarism Policy

1. Statement of Integrity

Al-Durar Research Journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and any form of academic dishonesty. We believe that original research is the backbone of Arabic and Islamic studies, and we are committed to ensuring that all published work is the result of authentic scholarly effort.

2. Plagiarism Screening & Detection

  • Similarity Check: All submitted manuscripts undergo mandatory screening for plagiarism using the Turnitin software before the peer-review process begins.

  • HEC Compliance: In accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan:

    • The overall Similarity Index must be less than 19%.

    • The similarity from a single source must be less than 5%.

  • Manual Evaluation: The Editorial Board performs a manual qualitative review of the similarity report to distinguish between coincidental matches (e.g., common phrases, Quranic verses, or Hadith texts) and actual intellectual theft.

3. Definition of Plagiarism

The journal considers the following actions as plagiarism:

  • Direct Copying: Reproducing text word-for-word from another source without using quotation marks and proper citation.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work (in whole or in part) without disclosing it or providing proper attribution.

  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Patching together text from various sources without original contribution or adequate referencing.

  • Inadequate Paraphrasing: Summarizing or changing the wording of an idea belonging to another person without crediting the original author.

4. Procedures for Handling Misconduct

  • At Submission Stage: If a manuscript exceeds the allowed similarity threshold, it will be returned to the author for revision or rejected immediately, depending on the severity.

  • During Review: If plagiarism is detected during the review process, the evaluation will be halted, and the author will be asked for a formal explanation.

  • Post-Publication: If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published, the journal will conduct an investigation. If proven, the article will be retracted (removed) from the journal’s website, and a "Notice of Retraction" will be publicly issued.

  • Institutional Notification: In cases of severe and intentional plagiarism, the journal reserves the right to blacklist the author and notify their parent institution.

5. Author Responsibility

It is the sole responsibility of the author(s) to ensure that their manuscript is free of plagiarism. Authors must:

  • Ensure all ideas, data, and text taken from other sources are properly cited using the journal’s required citation style.

  • Provide a signed Declaration of Originality at the time of submission, confirming that the work is original and has not been plagiarized.