Conflict of Interest
PUBLICATION ETHICS & RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Conflict of Interest
el-Noorda: Interdisciplinary Journal of Qur’an and Hadith requires authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose interests or relationships that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, their scholarly judgment.
1. What Constitutes a Competing Interest?
Competing interests may be financial or non-financial. Examples include employment, consultancy, research funding, paid expert work, close personal relationships, recent collaboration, supervisory relationships, institutional responsibilities, or significant professional rivalry.
A scholarly perspective or religious affiliation does not automatically constitute a competing interest. Disclosure is required when a specific relationship, commitment, or benefit could reasonably affect judgment about the work.
2. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors must disclose relevant interests when submitting the manuscript and update the disclosure if circumstances change. Funding sources and the funder’s role in research design, analysis, writing, and publication decisions must also be stated.
A competing interest does not automatically disqualify a manuscript. Disclosure allows editors and readers to assess the work transparently.
3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers must inform the editor of any relationship or interest that may compromise impartiality before accepting an invitation. If a conflict becomes apparent during review, the reviewer should pause the assessment and contact the editor.
Reviewers must not use confidential information for personal, professional, or financial advantage.
4. Responsibilities of Editors
Editors must withdraw from handling manuscripts where a competing interest could affect impartial decision-making. Another qualified editor will oversee the assessment.
Manuscripts authored by editors, editorial board members, or their close collaborators must undergo independent editorial handling. The author must not select reviewers, access confidential reviewer identities, or determine the publication decision.
5. Disclosure Statements
“The authors declare no financial or non-financial competing interests relevant to this article.”
“[Author name] discloses [relationship or interest] involving [organization or individual]. The relationship is relevant to this article because [explanation].”
6. Undisclosed Interests
If a relevant interest was not disclosed, the journal will seek an explanation and assess its effect on the review process or published work. Action may include independent reassessment, an updated disclosure, a correction, or further investigation where the integrity of the article is affected.
