1. Introduction
With the rapid development of AI tools and the expansion of their application in research activities, the need to establish rules governing the use of such tools in the production, evaluation, and publication of scholarly works has become increasingly evident. When used properly and responsibly, AI tools can contribute to improving the quality of writing, facilitating certain research activities, and enhancing researchers’ productivity. Conversely, improper use of these tools may compromise the originality of scholarly works, violate research ethics, generate false information or references, disclose confidential information, and infringe upon the rights of individuals.
Compliance with these Guidelines is mandatory for all authors, reviewers, Editorial Board members, academic editors, and any other persons involved in any manner in the receipt, evaluation, peer review, editing, and publication of articles in the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers. Authors are also required to complete and upload the Generative AI Declaration when submitting their manuscripts.
2. General Principles
2.1. The use of AI tools in the preparation, evaluation, and publication of articles is permitted within the limits set forth in these Guidelines.
2.2. Responsibility for the accuracy of the content, originality of the manuscript, validity of sources, accuracy of citations, analyses, research findings, and compliance with research ethics rests, in all cases, with the author(s) of the manuscript. The use of AI tools shall not transfer or diminish this responsibility.
2.3. AI tools do not possess legal or natural personhood and may not be identified as the author or co-author of a manuscript.
2.4. The use of AI tools must not replace the researcher’s thinking, analysis, reasoning, scholarly judgment, or accountability.
2.5. The use of outputs generated by AI tools does not eliminate the need for the user to review, evaluate, and scientifically verify such outputs.
2.6. Where AI tools have been used in the preparation or completion of a manuscript, the author is required, where applicable, to disclose the manner of such use in accordance with the Journal’s Guidelines.
2.7. All persons subject to these Guidelines are required to observe the principles of academic integrity, transparency, confidentiality of information, respect for intellectual property rights, and professional responsibility when using AI tools.
3. Permissible Uses of AI Tools
The use of AI tools is permitted where their role is solely supportive and the scholarly responsibility for the work remains with the researcher. Permissible uses include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Type of Use |
Status |
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Editing writing, grammar, punctuation, and improving the fluency of the text |
✅ Permitted |
|
Initial translation or improvement of the translation of scholarly texts |
✅ Permitted |
|
Suggesting a manuscript title, keywords, or abstract |
✅ Permitted |
|
Brainstorming and suggesting research topics or research questions |
✅ Permitted |
|
Suggesting the structure of a manuscript or organizing its contents |
✅ Permitted |
|
Summarizing scholarly sources |
✅ Permitted |
|
Suggesting sources relevant to the research topic, subject to the author’s review and verification |
✅ Permitted |
|
Assisting with data analysis, programming, or generating computer code |
✅ Permitted |
|
Preparing tables, charts, images, or other graphical elements required for the manuscript |
✅ Permitted |
|
Rewriting text prepared by the author for the purpose of improving writing quality |
✅ Permitted |
The use of AI tools in the above cases is subject to the following conditions:
a) The generated output must be fully reviewed, evaluated, and approved by the author.
b) The author must ensure the accuracy of the content, the validity of sources, the accuracy of citations, and the conformity of the output with scholarly standards.
c) The author shall bear full responsibility for all material incorporated from the outputs of AI tools.
d) Where the use of AI tools has materially contributed to the preparation or completion of a substantial part of the manuscript, such use must be disclosed in accordance with the Journal’s Guidelines.
Compliance with the foregoing conditions shall not preclude the scholarly evaluation of the manuscript under other rules and regulations governing the Journal.
4. Prohibited Uses of AI Tools
The use of AI tools is not permitted in cases where it compromises the originality of a scholarly work, violates research ethics, infringes upon the rights of individuals, or creates a misleading impression regarding the process by which a manuscript has been produced.
Prohibited uses of AI tools include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Type of Use |
Status |
|
Writing all or a substantial part of a manuscript using AI and presenting it as the author’s independent work |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Generating, fabricating, or altering research data, findings, statistics, or other scholarly results |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Generating or inserting fictitious sources, references, citations, or quotations |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Using AI to rewrite other persons’ works in order to conceal plagiarism or reduce textual similarity |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Using AI outputs without the author’s scholarly review, evaluation, and approval |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Delegating the analysis, interpretation, argumentation, or conclusions of the manuscript to AI |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Uploading a manuscript, research information, personal data, or other confidential information to public AI platforms without legal or contractual authorization |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Attributing content generated by AI to the author’s independent research or writing |
❌ Prohibited |
|
Failure to disclose the use of AI tools where disclosure is required under the Journal’s Guidelines |
❌ Prohibited |
The use of AI tools must not be such as to make it impossible to ascertain the author’s actual contribution to the production of the manuscript or to mislead readers, reviewers, or the Editorial Board concerning the originality of the work.
Where outputs generated by AI tools are used without scholarly review, the author shall bear full responsibility for all resulting consequences, including inaccurate content, citation of fictitious sources, infringement of intellectual property rights, or harm caused to individuals.
Where the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers has doubts concerning the manner in which AI tools have been used, the extent of their involvement in preparing the manuscript, or compliance with the requirements set forth in these Guidelines, it may, as appropriate, request explanations, supporting documents, or additional information from the author. Failure to provide sufficient explanations or documentation shall not prevent the Journal from making an appropriate decision.
5. Authors’ Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy, and scholarly validity of manuscripts submitted to the Journal. The use of AI tools does not release authors from responsibility and shall not transfer, in whole or in part, the scholarly, ethical, or legal responsibility for the manuscript to such tools.
Before submitting a manuscript, authors are required to review and verify all its components with respect to the accuracy of the content, validity of sources, correctness of citations, originality of analyses, and compliance with research ethics. The use of outputs generated by AI tools without the author’s scholarly evaluation and approval is not permitted.
Where AI tools have been used in the preparation, completion, or editing of a manuscript, the author is required to disclose such use in accordance with the Guidelines of the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers. Such disclosure must be proportionate to the extent of the use of AI and must include, at a minimum, the name of the tool, the purpose of its use, and the section or sections of the manuscript that were prepared or revised with its assistance.
Before citing sources suggested or generated by AI tools, authors are required to verify their existence, credibility, and bibliographic accuracy. The inclusion of references, quotations, or information extracted from AI outputs without scholarly verification shall remain the responsibility of the author, who shall be liable for any consequences arising therefrom.
Uploading manuscripts, unpublished versions, personal information, research data, confidential documents, research contracts, or any information whose disclosure would contravene laws, regulations, or professional obligations to public AI platforms is not permitted, unless legal authorization or the consent of the relevant persons has been obtained.
Where the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers requests explanations or additional documentation to assess the originality of a manuscript or the manner in which AI tools have been used, the author is required to provide such materials within the specified timeframe.
Disclosure of the use of AI tools shall not, in itself, result in the rejection of a manuscript. The basis for decision-making shall be compliance with the Journal’s Guidelines, preservation of the originality of the work, transparency regarding the use of AI, and confirmation of the author’s accountability.
6. Reviewers’ Responsibilities
Reviewers are required to observe the principles of confidentiality, independence, impartiality, and scholarly integrity at all stages of the peer-review process. The use of AI tools must not result in a breach of manuscript confidentiality, disclosure of authors’ information, or impairment of the independence of peer review.
Uploading all or any part of a manuscript, authors’ information, supplementary files, research data, or any confidential information related to manuscripts submitted to the Journal to public AI platforms is not permitted.
Reviewers must prepare their review reports on the basis of their specialized knowledge, scholarly experience, and independent assessment. The use of AI tools must not replace the scholarly examination of the manuscript, analysis of its content, or the reviewer’s professional judgment regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection.
Limited use of AI tools for non-substantive purposes, including editing the language of a review report, translating texts, or searching for general information, is permitted only where it does not disclose confidential information from the manuscript and does not affect the independence or quality of the peer-review process.
Where a reviewer encounters instances such as unauthorized use of AI, the generation of fictitious references or data, non-disclosure of AI use, or other related misconduct during the review process, the reviewer shall report the matter in the review report and provide the Journal with any available supporting evidence.
Reviewers are required to refrain from storing or transferring submitted manuscripts and other information made available to them by the Journal.
7. Enforcement Measures
Compliance with these Guidelines is mandatory for all authors, reviewers, Editorial Board members, academic editors, and all other persons cooperating with the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers in any capacity.
Where, at any stage of manuscript receipt, initial assessment, peer review, revision, acceptance, preparation for publication, publication, or after publication, it is established to the satisfaction of the Journal’s Editorial Board that an author has used AI tools contrary to these Guidelines and has failed to disclose such use, or has used AI tools in prohibited ways, the Journal may, as appropriate, take one or more of the following measures:
The implementation of any of the foregoing measures shall not preclude the exercise of other rights and powers of the Journal or the application of other relevant laws and regulations.
Where the Journal’s Editorial Board determines that an author has provided false information concerning the use of AI tools or has failed to provide the necessary explanations and supporting documents, the Journal may take this matter into account in making its final decision regarding the manuscript.
Where a violation is established after publication, the Journal of Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers may, as appropriate and in accordance with scholarly publishing standards, correct the article, publish a correction notice, retract the article, or take other appropriate measures.
Where the Editorial Board determines that a reviewer has, contrary to these Guidelines, provided a manuscript or related confidential information to public AI platforms, or has delegated the scholarly evaluation of a manuscript to AI tools, the reviewer’s report shall be deemed invalid and shall not be considered. The Journal may also refrain from assigning future manuscripts to that reviewer and, where appropriate, report the matter to the relevant authority or institution.
The determination of compliance or non-compliance with these Guidelines, the assessment of submitted evidence, the establishment of violations, and the adoption of appropriate measures, within the scope of the Journal’s authority, shall rest with the Vice-Chancellorship for Research of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran.
Reference for these Guidelines:
Guidelines for the Use of AI Tools in Research, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.