Retraction, Withdrawal, & Correction Policies

Policy Statement

It is acknowledged that authors invest considerable effort in the preparation of their manuscripts, and our peer-review processes are designed to honor that dedication. Nevertheless, there are occasions when published articles must be retracted or amended for scientific justifications. Such measures should be approached with gravity and implemented only under extraordinary circumstances to preserve the integrity of our electronic archives. Our commitment and policy are directed towards maintaining the integrity and comprehensiveness of essential scientific records, thereby serving the interests of researchers and library collections. 

Retraction

The Journal of Living Fiqh is committed to maintaining the integrity of the academic record. As a result, there may be instances in which the retraction of articles is warranted. Articles may be subject to retraction under the following circumstances:

  • A substantial scientific error could invalidate the conclusions of the article, particularly in instances of evident unreliability stemming from misconduct, such as data fabrication, or from unintentional mistakes, such as miscalculations or experimental inaccuracies.
  • Additionally, the findings may have been disseminated in other publications without adequate cross-referencing, authorization, or justification, thereby representing instances of redundant publication.
  • Ethical issues may also emerge, including plagiarism, which involves the unauthorized use of another individual's ideas, methodologies, results, or language without proper attribution, including information acquired through the confidential review of others' manuscripts, as well as concerns regarding inappropriate authorship.

To ensure that retractions adhere to best publication practices and follow COPE Retraction Guidelines, the Journal of Living Fiqh  follows this retraction process:

  • An article that may require retraction is brought to the attention of the journal editor.
  • Following COPE flowcharts, the journal editor follows step-by-step guidelines (including evaluating a response from the author of the article in question).
  • Before any action is taken, the editor's findings are submitted to the Ethics Advisory Board to ensure a consistent approach in line with industry best practices.
  • The final decision regarding retraction is communicated to the author and, if necessary, other relevant parties, such as the author's institution on occasion.
  • The retraction statement is then posted online and published in the next available issue of the journal (see below for more details about this step).
  • Please note that if authors retain copyright for an article, they automatically have the right to retract it after publication. The integrity of the published scientific record is of paramount importance, and COPE's Retraction Guidelines still apply in such cases.

Article Withdrawal

The Journal of Living Fiqh  allows authors to withdraw submitted manuscripts as long as they have not signed the manuscript declaration once the manuscript has been accepted for publication. Since authors would be asked to sign the declaration once the manuscript is accepted, withdrawal can only be requested during the submission and review stages. Authors can send a letter directly to the journal's email indicating their intention to withdraw the detailed manuscript. 

Article Correction

The Journal of Living Fiqh  may consider issuing a correction if:

  • A minor portion of an otherwise reliable publication contains flawed data or proves to be misleading, especially if this results from an honest error.
  • The Author or Contributor list is incorrect, such as a deserving Author being omitted or someone who does not meet authorship criteria being included.

Corrections to peer-reviewed content fall into three categories:

  • Publisher correction (erratum): To inform readers of a significant error made by publishing/journal staff (typically a production error) that impacts the publication record, scientific integrity, or the reputation of the Authors or the journal.
  • Author correction (corrigendum): To inform readers of a critical error made by the Authors that adversely affects the publication record, scientific integrity, or the reputation of the Authors or the journal.
  • Addendum: An addition to the article by the Authors to address inconsistencies, expand on the existing work, or provide explanations or updates regarding the information in the main work.

The decision on whether a correction is warranted is made by the Editor(s) of the journal, sometimes with input from Reviewers or Editorial Board members. Handling Editors will contact the Authors of the paper in question with a request for clarification, but the final decision about whether a correction is necessary and which type rests with the Editors. 

Article Removal

In rare cases, it may be necessary to remove a published article from our online platform. This action would only be taken if an article is defamatory, infringes on others' legal rights, is subject to a court order, or poses a severe health risk. In such circumstances, the article's metadata (title and author information) will be retained, but the text will be replaced with a notification indicating that the article has been removed for legal reasons. 

Article Replacement

In situations where an article, if acted upon, may pose a severe health risk, the Authors of the original paper may choose to retract the flawed original and replace it with a corrected version. In such cases, the procedures for retraction described above will be followed, with the difference that the article retraction notice will include a link to the corrected re-published article along with a history of the document.