Plagiarism Policy

Ulūm al-Sunnah follows strict anti-plagiarism guidelines in line with the HEC Anti-Plagiarism Policy 2023. All submitted manuscripts must represent original work and properly acknowledge all sources, including text, ideas, graphics, tables, or figures.

Key Guidelines:

1. Similarity Limits:

  • Overall similarity index must not exceed 19%.
  • Similarity from a single source must not exceed 5%.
  • Similarities in quotations, references, or common phrases may be excluded after verification.

2. AI-Generated Content:

  • Use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) is allowed only for understanding or analyzing data, but cannot replace the author’s original work.
  • Any AI-generated text must be properly disclosed and attributed; copying AI-generated content without attribution is considered plagiarism.

3. Self-Plagiarism:

  • Reusing parts of previously published work by the same author is allowed only if properly cited. Verbatim or paraphrased reuse without citation is considered plagiarism.

4. Detection and Review:

  • Manuscripts are checked using electronic detection systems (EDS) such as Turnitin.
  • Similarity reports are interpreted by subject experts in context; high similarity or improper citation may lead to rejection or further investigation.

5. Responsibility:

  • All authors are responsible for originality. Co-authors may be held partially accountable if they were aware of the plagiarism.
  • Manuscripts found plagiarized before or after publication will be subject to editorial action, including rejection, retraction, or reporting to institutions.

6. Proper Citation:

  • All sources must be properly cited following accepted academic standards (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style).
  • Summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting must clearly acknowledge the original source.

7. HEC Compliance:

  • Ulūm al-Sunnah aligns with HEC’s policy that plagiarism is a serious academic offense with potential disciplinary or legal consequences.

Authors are strongly advised to ensure originality and proper attribution in all submitted work.