1. Archiving Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal ensures the long-term preservation and free accessibility of all published content in support of open-access research.

All articles are digitally archived through reliable preservation systems and trusted repositories to guarantee permanent availability, even in case of website disruptions. The journal follows internationally recognized digital archiving standards.

Authors are permitted to self-archive their accepted and published manuscripts in institutional repositories and personal platforms, with proper acknowledgment of the original publication.

Each published article is assigned a permanent DOI to ensure stable identification and easy access over time. Supplementary materials are also preserved alongside the main articles.

All published content is retained indefinitely and remains freely available. The journal complies with international open-access and archiving standards and provides articles in widely accessible formats with complete metadata for global discoverability.

2. Peer Review Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal follows a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality, integrity, and academic relevance of all published research.

Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts selected for their subject expertise. Reviewers and authors remain anonymous to maintain fairness and impartiality. All reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest.

Manuscripts are evaluated based on originality, scientific quality, clarity, relevance, ethical compliance, and reference quality. Based on reviewers’ recommendations, editorial decisions include acceptance, minor revision, major revision, or rejection.

Authors are required to revise their manuscripts according to reviewer feedback and may undergo additional review if necessary. The review process is confidential and follows strict ethical standards, including plagiarism screening.

The journal aims to complete the review process within 4–6 weeks and is committed to maintaining transparency, integrity, and excellence in Islamic legal scholarship.

3. Paper Prints Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal primarily publishes articles online under an open-access model to ensure global accessibility. The digital version is the official and primary format of publication.

Printed copies of articles or journal issues are available on a print-on-demand basis upon request from authors, libraries, institutions, or individual readers. One complimentary copy may be provided to authors, subject to availability, while additional copies are offered at a printing and shipping fee.

All print requests must be submitted through the journal’s website or editorial office and require advance payment. Printing costs depend on article length, quantity, and delivery location.

Print copies are produced using professional-quality standards and are usually processed within 5–10 business days. Shipping charges apply based on destination.

To support environmental sustainability, the journal encourages digital access as the primary method of reading and archiving research. Printed copies are identical to the online versions and may be used for personal, institutional, or archival purposes.

4. Withdrawal Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal allows authors to withdraw their manuscripts at different stages of the publication process under specific conditions.

Authors may withdraw their manuscript before a final decision by submitting a formal request to the editorial office without penalty. Withdrawal after peer review is permitted with proper notification and explanation.

Once a manuscript has been accepted, withdrawal is allowed only for valid reasons, such as major errors or ethical concerns. In such cases, authors may be required to cover any processing or production costs incurred.

After publication, withdrawal is generally not permitted. If serious issues arise, the journal may issue a correction or retraction in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Authors are responsible for timely communication with the editorial team and must ensure that their manuscript is not under review elsewhere. Ethical misconduct related to withdrawal may result in restrictions on future submissions.

5. Refund Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal charges Article Processing Charges (APCs) for accepted manuscripts to support peer review, editing, and publication services.

Authors are eligible for a full refund if a manuscript is withdrawn before acceptance. A partial refund may be considered if withdrawal occurs after acceptance but before publication, depending on incurred processing costs.

Refunds may also be granted in cases of verified editorial or publishing errors that significantly affect publication. In such cases, a full or partial refund will be issued as appropriate.

Once an article has been officially published, APCs are non-refundable, except in cases of serious publisher error.

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to the editorial office with manuscript and payment details. All requests are reviewed by the editorial team, and approved refunds are processed within 30 business days using the original payment method. Transaction fees may be deducted where applicable.

The journal is committed to transparency and timely communication throughout the refund process.

6. Publication Ethics

Al-Meezan Research Journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and academic integrity in all stages of publication. The journal follows internationally recognized guidelines, including COPE and ICMJE standards.

Authors must submit original work, avoid plagiarism and multiple submissions, ensure data accuracy, disclose conflicts of interest, and follow ethical research practices, including obtaining necessary approvals and informed consent where applicable.

Reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality, provide objective and constructive evaluations, declare conflicts of interest, and report any suspected ethical misconduct to the editorial team.

Editors must ensure fair and impartial decision-making, maintain transparency, manage conflicts of interest, and take appropriate action in cases of ethical concerns, including issuing corrections or retractions when necessary.

Publishers support ethical publishing practices, promote open access, and handle ethical complaints responsibly.

Al-Meezan Research Journal is dedicated to ensuring that all published research meets the highest ethical and professional standards and contributes responsibly to Islamic legal scholarship.

7. Plagiarism Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. All submitted manuscripts are screened using reliable plagiarism detection software.

Manuscripts with a similarity index above 18–25% (excluding references and properly cited quotations) are subject to detailed review and may be returned for revision or rejected, depending on the severity.

Plagiarism includes copying, improper paraphrasing, unauthorized use of data or images, self-plagiarism, multiple submissions, and misrepresentation of authorship. Authors must ensure proper citation and originality in all submissions.

Minor cases of unintentional overlap may require revision, while serious or repeated violations may result in rejection, retraction, institutional notification, or permanent submission bans.

Authors are fully responsible for the authenticity of their work. Appeals against plagiarism decisions may be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the editorial board.

8. Copyright and Licensing Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal respects the intellectual property rights of authors and is committed to promoting open and ethical scholarly communication.

Authors retain the copyright of their published work while granting Al-Meezan Research Journal the right to publish, distribute, and archive the article in print and electronic formats.

All articles are published under an open-access license, preferably the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows readers to copy, distribute, reuse, and adapt the work for any lawful purpose, provided proper credit is given to the original author and the journal.

Authors may share, reproduce, and archive their published articles on personal websites, institutional repositories, and academic platforms, with appropriate citation of the original publication.

Any third-party material included in an article must have proper permission and acknowledgment. Authors are responsible for securing necessary rights for such content.

Commercial use, republication, or translation of published articles requires prior permission from the journal and proper attribution.

This policy ensures wide dissemination, protection of authors’ rights, and compliance with international open-access standards.

9. Open Access Policy

Al-Meezan Research Journal is an open-access journal committed to providing free, immediate, and unrestricted access to scholarly research in Islamic law and legal studies.

All published articles are freely available online without subscription or registration barriers. Readers may read, download, copy, distribute, print, and share articles, provided proper credit is given to the authors and the journal.

The journal publishes articles under a Creative Commons license, preferably CC BY, allowing wide reuse while ensuring appropriate attribution.

Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant the journal the right to publish and disseminate their articles globally.

Article Processing Charges (APCs), where applicable, are used solely to support editorial, peer review, and publication services and do not affect editorial decisions.

Al-Meezan Research Journal supports the principles of the Budapest, Berlin, and Bethesda Declarations on Open Access and is committed to promoting transparent, ethical, and accessible scholarly communication.