Author Guidelines

Bulletin of Islamic Research (BIR) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes high-quality scholarly articles in the field of Islamic studies and related disciplines. The journal aspires to meet international publishing standards and Scopus-indexed journal best practices.

1. Scope and Focus

BIR welcomes original research articles, conceptual papers, and critical reviews in, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies (Islam and social sciences, humanities, or digital studies)
• Islam and Contemporary Issues (technology, environment, politics, gender, multiculturalism)

• Islamic Law and Legal Thought
• Islamic Education and Pedagogy
• Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism
• Islamic History and Civilization

• Islamic Scriptural Studies (Qur’anic Studies, Tafsir and Hadith)

• Islamic Theology (Kalam)

2. Types of Manuscripts

The journal accepts the following manuscript types:

1. Original Research Articles (preferred)
2. Conceptual or Theoretical Papers
3. Critical Literature Reviews (Systematic or Narrative)
4. Book Reviews (by invitation)

3. Originality and Publication Ethics

• Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
• All submissions will be screened using plagiarism detection software.
• The similarity index should not exceed 20%, with no single source exceeding 3%.
• Authors must comply with ethical standards in research, citation, and authorship.

BIR adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

4. Language

• Manuscripts must be written in academic English.
• Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to use professional language editing services prior to submission.

5. Manuscript Length

• Research articles: 6,000–9,000 words (including references)
• Review articles: 5,000–8,000 words
• Book reviews: 1,500–2,000 words

6. Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts should be prepared in the following order:

1. Title
2. Author(s) Name(s) and Affiliation(s)
3. Abstract
4. Keywords
5. Introduction
6. Literature Review / Theoretical Framework
7. Methodology
8. Results and Discussion
9. Conclusion
10. Acknowledgements
11. References

7. Title and Author Information

• The title should be concise, informative, and reflect the main contribution of the article (maximum 16 words).
• Author names should be written without academic titles.
• Affiliations must include department, institution, city, and country.
• One corresponding author must be clearly indicated.

8. Abstract and Keywords

Abstract

• Length: 150–250 words
• Written in English
• Should briefly state:
• Research background
• Research objectives
• Methodology
• Key findings
• Main contribution

Keywords

• Provide 3–5 keywords
• Avoid words already used in the title

9. Methodology Section

The methodology must clearly explain:

• Research design and approach
• Data sources (primary and/or secondary)
• Methods of data collection
• Analytical framework or interpretative method (e.g., hermeneutics, historical analysis, discourse analysis)

10. Results and Discussion

• Results should be presented clearly and logically.
• Discussion must engage critically with relevant theories and previous studies.
• Authors are encouraged to highlight the novelty and contribution of their findings to Islamic studies.

11. Conclusion

The conclusion should:

• Summarize the main findings
• Highlight theoretical and/or practical implications
• Suggest directions for future research

12. References and Citation Style

• BIR uses the IEEE Citation Style.
• Citations in the text should be indicated by sequential numbers in square brackets, e.g., [1], [2], [3].
• References must be listed in the order of citation, not alphabetically.
• Authors are strongly encouraged to use reference management software (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote).
• At least 70% of references should be from peer-reviewed journal articles.
• References should primarily be from the last 10 years, except for classical Islamic sources or seminal works.

Examples:

Journal Article
[1] A. A. Author, "Title of article," Title of Journal, vol. xx, no. x, pp. xxx–xxx, Year, doi: xx.xxxx/xxxxx.

Book
[2] A. A. Author, Title of Book. City, Country: Publisher, Year.

Chapter in an Edited Book
[3] A. A. Author, "Title of chapter," in Title of Book, A. Editor, Ed. City, Country: Publisher, Year, pp. xxx–xxx.

Classical Islamic Sources
[4] Al-Ṭabarī, Jāmiʿ al-bayān. City: Publisher, Year.

13. Transliteration

Arabic transliteration should follow a recognized international standard (e.g., IJMES or ALA-LC) and be used consistently throughout the manuscript.

14. Tables and Figures

• Tables and figures must be numbered consecutively.
• Titles should be placed above tables and below figures.
• All tables and figures must be cited in the text.

15. Peer Review Process

• BIR applies a double-blind peer review system.
• Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers.
• The editorial decision may be: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.

16. Open Access Policy

Bulletin of Islamic Research provides open access to its content to support the global exchange of knowledge.

17. Article Processing Charges (APCs)

• Currently, no submission or publication fees are charged.
• Any changes to APC policy will be announced on the journal website.

18. Copyright and Licensing

• Authors retain copyright of their work.
• Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, unless otherwise stated.

19. Submission

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically through the journal’s online submission system. Authors must ensure that the manuscript is prepared according to these guidelines prior to submission.