Screening for Plagiarism

Multidisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Islamic Discourse (MJCID) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and strictly prohibits all forms of plagiarism and unethical research practices. To ensure the originality and authenticity of submitted manuscripts, the journal implements a comprehensive plagiarism screening policy as outlined below.

  1. Plagiarism Detection
    All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial plagiarism screening prior to the peer review process. The journal uses reliable similarity-detection software such as Turnitin and/or iThenticate to assess textual similarity. Screening is conducted at the editorial stage before the manuscript is forwarded to reviewers.
  2. Similarity Threshold
    The acceptable similarity index must be no more than 20%, excluding references, properly quoted material, commonly used terminology, and methodological descriptions. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be:
    • Returned to the author for revision and clarification; or
    • Rejected outright, depending on the severity and nature of the similarity.
    Editorial judgment will consider whether overlap constitutes legitimate citation practice or potential misconduct.
  3. Types of Plagiarism
    MJCID recognizes the following forms of plagiarism as serious violations of publication ethics:
    • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text verbatim without quotation marks and proper attribution.
    • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing or reusing one’s own previously published work without appropriate acknowledgment or citation.
    • Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases, ideas, or structure from a source without proper quotation or citation.
    • Improper Paraphrasing: Rewriting another author’s ideas without giving due credit.
    • Data or Figure Plagiarism: Using tables, figures, images, or data without permission or proper citation.
  4. Actions on Detected Plagiarism
    If plagiarism or significant similarity is identified at any stage of the publication process, the journal will take appropriate action:
    • Before Publication: The manuscript will be rejected or returned to the author for substantial revision.
    • After Publication: The article may be formally retracted, corrected, or accompanied by an expression of concern. A retraction notice will be published to maintain transparency and protect the integrity of the scholarly record.
    In cases of severe misconduct, the journal may notify the author’s affiliated institution and restrict future submissions.
  5. Author Responsibility
    Authors are fully responsible for ensuring the originality of their submissions. All sources must be properly cited in accordance with APA 7th Edition guidelines. By submitting a manuscript to MJCID, authors confirm that their work is original, properly referenced, and free from plagiarism.
  6. Editorial Discretion and Verification
    The editorial team reserves the right to request raw data, research documentation, or additional clarification when necessary to verify the authenticity and originality of the manuscript. Failure to provide satisfactory clarification may result in rejection.

Through this policy, Multidisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Islamic Discourse (MJCID) ensures that all published works maintain the highest standards of scholarly integrity and ethical academic practice.