Review Guidelines for IERA, Islamic Education and Research Academy

1. Starting the Review Process

   • Reviewers must log in to the IERA website to access the main page, where they can proceed with the review process.
   • On the main page, reviewers can access two submission pages: My Queue and Archive. My Queue displays the articles that require review, while Archive contains submissions that have been previously reviewed.

2. Accessing the Review

   • To begin the review, click on the title of the article listed in My Queue. This will open the Review page.
   • The Review page contains the title and abstract of the submission, followed by metadata information and the review schedule, including the deadline for submitting the review.

3. Review Steps

   • There are six steps to the review process: a. Confirming Availability: Reviewers must confirm their availability to conduct the review by clicking the Will do the review icon or decline by clicking Unable to do. A response email will be sent to the Editor. b. Accessing the Manuscript: Once availability is confirmed, the full text of the manuscript can be downloaded by clicking on the article file name (including any supplementary files if available). The manuscript is sent to the reviewer in an anonymous format. Detailed information about the authors can be obtained from the editorial board after the review is completed. c. Completing the Review Form: Reviewers should fill out the Review Form provided by the editor by clicking on the Review Form icon. Comments in the review form can be included in the email to the author. d. Uploading the Review File: Reviewers may upload the review file in Word or PDF format using the upload feature. This file can be made available to the authors by the Editor without the need for email attachments. Reviewers are encouraged to provide objective evaluations on each criterion without revealing their identity. e. Recommendations: After completing the review, reviewers must select one of the following recommendations:
     • Accept Submission: Approve the article for publication.
     • Revision Required: Indicate that the article needs revisions.
     • Resubmit for Review: Request that the article be revised and reviewed again in a second round.
     • Decline Submission: Reject the article. f. Submitting the Review: To finalize the review process, reviewers must click Submit review to editor.

4. Important Notes

   • Before clicking Submit review to editor, reviewers should ensure that the review is complete. Once the submission is confirmed, reviewers cannot upload additional files or provide further review comments.
   • Reviewers are prohibited from contacting the authors directly, and vice versa. Any recommendations provided by the reviewers (e.g., accept or decline) will not be disclosed to the authors. Authors will only receive information regarding the editor's decision.
   • Reviewers must remain free from any influence or intervention that could compromise the objectivity of their recommendations.
   • Reviewers have the right to decline the review if they cannot meet the deadlines set by the editor or for any other reason. In such cases, reviewers should notify the editor as early as possible.

These guidelines are designed to ensure a fair, objective, and efficient review process for all submissions to IERA, Islamic Education and Research Academy. Reviewers play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal, and adherence to these guidelines is essential for upholding the journal's academic standards.