Manuscript Types

Article categories, scholarly contribution, and editorial expectations in Islamic economics, finance, and business.

Editorial principle: a manuscript is evaluated for its contribution to Islamic economics and related fields—not merely because it discusses a Muslim population, uses an Islamic label, or applies a common statistical technique.

1Original Research Article — Primary Category

Original Research Articles report previously unpublished findings based on a clear research problem, appropriate theoretical grounding, transparent methods, systematic analysis, and a substantive contribution to Islamic economics, Islamic finance, banking, business, or related policy and institutional studies.

• Quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, econometric, experimental, survey, case-study, comparative, and computational approaches may be considered.
• The study must explain data sources, sampling or case selection, analytical procedures, validity/robustness considerations, and relevant research ethics.
• The discussion should interpret the findings in relation to prior research and the specific contribution to Islamic economic knowledge or practice.

2Review Article / Systematic Review — Selective

Rigorous review manuscripts may be considered when they provide more than a descriptive compilation of literature. Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, bibliometric analyses, and evidence syntheses should state transparent search, selection, screening, and analytical procedures appropriate to the review design.

Where applicable, authors should use recognized reporting frameworks such as PRISMA and clearly distinguish bibliometric mapping from substantive evidence synthesis.

3Conceptual, Theoretical, or Policy Analysis — Selective

Conceptual or theoretical articles may be considered when they develop an original framework, reinterpret established theory, or provide a rigorous analytical contribution to contemporary Islamic economic questions. Policy analyses should identify the policy problem, legal or institutional context, evidence base, analytical method, and implications rather than offering commentary alone.

4Case-Based and Applied Studies

Applied studies—including Islamic banking practice, halal industry, zakat/waqf management, Islamic entrepreneurship, digital finance, sustainability, or community economic empowerment—must formulate a research question and provide systematic evidence. Descriptions of programs, products, institutions, or software without analytical depth are normally insufficient for publication.

5General Preparation Expectations

• Use the latest official journal template and submit an editable Microsoft Word file.
• As a general guide, manuscripts should be approximately 7,000–9,000 words or follow the equivalent page range specified in the current template.
• Provide an informative abstract, 3–5 keywords, a clearly articulated research gap, transparent methods, coherent results/discussion, and a concise conclusion.
• Use current, relevant, and verifiable scholarly sources. References should be managed consistently with the journal’s current citation style.
• All eligible manuscript types are subject to editorial screening, similarity checking, and double-anonymous peer review.

6Normally Outside the Journal’s Scope

• General management, accounting, marketing, or development studies with no meaningful connection to Islamic economic theory, institutions, policy, ethics, or practice.
• Purely descriptive institutional reports or community-service reports without a research design and scholarly contribution.
• Opinion pieces, promotional material, unsupported religious or economic claims, and literature compilations lacking a transparent analytical method.
• Studies whose principal findings do not advance the journal’s stated focus and scope.

The Editorial Board may recommend a more appropriate article classification during initial screening. Article type does not affect editorial independence or acceptance standards.