Peer Review Process

Peer Review Process

Manuscripts submitted to the Al-Qolam Journal: Journal of Quranic Studies and Exegesis will undergo a selection and evaluation process by the Editorial Board to ensure their compliance with the writing guidelines, research focus, and scope of the journal—particularly in the fields of Quranic studies, exegesis, and the Islamic heritage of the Nusantara—as well as their adherence to academic quality standards.

All manuscripts are reviewed using a double-blind peer review method, in which the identities of the authors and reviewers are kept confidential from one another.

During the initial review stage, the Editorial Board examines the manuscript to ensure it complies with the writing guidelines, the journal’s research focus and scope, and meets the basic academic standards. If the manuscript does not meet these requirements, the author will be given the opportunity to revise it in accordance with the editor’s comments. However, the manuscript may also be rejected outright if it is deemed unsuitable.

Manuscripts that pass the initial review stage will be sent to two reviewers with expertise in the manuscript’s field of study. The review process takes a maximum of three weeks. Manuscripts that do not pass the initial review stage will not be processed at this stage.

The reviewer makes the following recommendations:

- Accepted, meaning the manuscript is suitable for publication;

- Accepted with minor revisions, meaning the manuscript is suitable for publication following limited amendments in accordance with the reviewer’s comments;

- Accepted with major revisions, i.e. the manuscript requires substantial improvements, such as to the analytical framework, the approach or interpretative theory used, as well as the formulation of arguments and writing style;

- Rejected, i.e. the manuscript is not suitable for publication or contains fundamental issues.

The reviewers’ recommendations serve as a basis for the Editorial Board’s consideration in determining the next course of action regarding the manuscript.

Manuscripts accepted subject to minor or major revisions will be returned to the author together with a summary of the review findings. Authors are given:

- three weeks for major revisions;

- one week for minor revisions.

The Editorial Board will review the revised manuscript to ensure that all reviewers’ comments have been adequately addressed. At this stage, the manuscript may still be rejected if the revisions are insufficient.

Authors must resubmit the revised manuscript together with a form responding to the reviewers’ comments.