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| JOURNAL POLICIES |
Retraction and Correction
Policy Statement
The ALFALAK: Journal of Islamic Astronomy recognizes the substantial effort invested by authors in preparing and revising manuscripts and reflects this commitment through a rigorous peer-review and editorial process. Nevertheless, there are circumstances in which published articles require correction or retraction for scientific, ethical, or legal reasons. Such actions are undertaken with the utmost seriousness and only when necessary to preserve the accuracy, credibility, and integrity of the scholarly record.
This policy is designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and consistency in post-publication practices, while safeguarding the reliability and completeness of the journal’s electronic archives for the benefit of researchers, readers, and library repositories.
Retraction
The ALFALAK: Journal of Islamic Astronomy is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Retraction may be necessary in cases where the validity or ethical standing of a published article is fundamentally compromised. Articles may be retracted under the following circumstances:
- Clear evidence shows that the findings are unreliable due to research misconduct, including, but not limited to, data fabrication, falsification, or citation manipulation, or as a result of honest but critical errors (e.g., major miscalculations or methodological flaws).
- Redundant or duplicate publication occurs when substantial portions of the work have been previously published elsewhere without appropriate disclosure, permission, or justification.
- Serious ethical violations, including plagiarism, misuse of confidential peer-review material, or inappropriate authorship practices.
To ensure adherence to best publication practices and consistency with the COPE Retraction Guidelines, the journal follows the procedures outlined below:
- Potential grounds for retraction are brought to the attention of the editor(s).
- The editor(s) conduct an initial assessment and follow relevant COPE flowcharts, including providing the author(s) with an opportunity to respond.
- Where necessary, the findings are reviewed in consultation with the Editorial Board or an ethics committee to ensure a fair and principled decision-making process.
- The final decision regarding retraction is formally communicated to the author(s) and, where appropriate, to the relevant institutions.
A retraction notice is published online and in the next available issue of the journal. The notice clearly identifies the retracted article, states the reason for retraction, and provides a direct link to the original publication. Where authors retain copyright, they do not possess an unconditional right to retract a published article; in all cases, the integrity of the scholarly record takes precedence.
Article Correction
The journal may issue a correction when a published article remains largely reliable but contains errors that require clarification or amendment.
- A limited portion of the article contains inaccurate or misleading information arising from an honest error that does not invalidate the overall findings.
- Errors in authorship or contributorship, such as the omission of a qualified author or the inclusion of an individual who does not meet authorship criteria.
Corrections to peer-reviewed content are classified as follows:
- Publisher Correction (Erratum): Issued to correct significant errors introduced during the production or publication process.
- Author Correction (Corrigendum): Issued to address significant errors made by the author(s) that affect the interpretation of the work.
- Addendum: Issued to provide additional information or clarification that complements the original article without altering its core conclusions.
Decisions regarding the issuance and type of correction are made by the editor(s), potentially in consultation with reviewers or editorial board members. While authors may be invited to provide clarification, the final determination rests with the editor(s).
Article Removal
In exceptional and rare circumstances, an article may be removed from the journal’s online platform, limited to cases involving defamation, infringement of legal rights, court orders, or serious risks to public health. In such cases, the article’s metadata will remain accessible, accompanied by a notice explaining the reason for removal.
Article Replacement
Where a published article poses a serious risk if acted upon, authors may retract the original article and replace it with a corrected version. The retraction notice will include a link to the corrected article and a transparent record of the publication history.
