Ranking & Predicate Framework

DIsJ Ranking & Predicate Framework

Rankings and Predicates Based on Editorial & Management Integrity, Scholar & Content Integrity, and Social & Global Impact

The quality of a journal is not defined by abstract and manipulatable citation metrics, but by its editorial integrity (trustworthiness and fairness), procedural transparency (justice), and its real impact on the Ummah (brotherhood and mutual cooperation). DIsJ Ranking & Predicate is built upon the following three pillars:

Pillar A: Editorial & Management Integrity (Weight: 35%)

This pillar focuses on managerial professionalism, time efficiency, and resistance against managerial capitalism.

Submission to First Decision: A metric evaluating a journal’s efficiency and professionalism during the desk review stage. A shorter turnaround time signifies higher effectiveness and professional integrity. Conversely, excessive delays constitute Zalim (injustice) toward authors, as they are deprived of the opportunity to seek alternative publication venues. Such stagnant decisions can jeopardize an author’s career progression, graduation, and the temporal relevance (expiration) of their research data. The maximum duration for a desk review is established at 30 days. To ensure accountability, journals are required to publicly display their ‘Time to First Decision’ statistics on their website.

Review Time: An indicator of the depth and rigor of the peer-review process. While a sufficient duration signifies a more stringent evaluation, excessive delays are considered inefficient and may hinder scholarly communication. To maintain Amanah (integrity) and avoid Zalim (injustice), the ideal review duration is established between 30 and 180 days. Reviews completed in under 30 days are suspected of being superficial (lacking depth), while those exceeding 180 days are deemed negligent of the author’s rights.

Acceptance to Publication: A metric reflecting the professionalism and efficiency of the editorial production team. A shorter duration signifies superior performance. Conversely, delaying the publication of a manuscript that has already been deemed suitable for release constitutes an act of Zalim (injustice). Such delays not only jeopardize the author’s career progression and student graduation but also obstruct the advancement of knowledge, thereby causing detriment to the Ummah.

Editorial Endogeneity Ratio: A metric indicating potential conflicts of interest within the editorial board. This ratio serves as a measure of Amanah (trustworthiness) and Adil (justice) in editorial management. A lower index is preferred, as it signifies higher objectivity and minimal internal bias. To maintain scholarly integrity, the maximum threshold is established at 10% of the total articles published annually.

Institutional Endogeneity Ratio: A metric indicating potential institutional bias. To uphold high scholarly standards and the principle of Adil (justice), journals must avoid over-publishing manuscripts from their own host institutions. A higher ratio risks fostering scientific nepotism, which unfairly disadvantages external authors and undermines the spirit of Ukhwah (brotherhood). A lower ratio signifies a broader national or international reach, ensuring a more objective peer-review process free from internal favoritism. The maximum threshold is established at 25% of the total articles published annually.

Publication Volume Stability: An indicator of potential academic capitalism, especially for journals charging Article Processing Charges (APC). A consistent and reasonable volume per issue signifies a commitment to quality over commercial profit. Sudden and excessive spikes in the number of published articles often indicate a ‘quantity over quality’ approach, which is a betrayal of editorial Amanah. To maintain stability, a 20% tolerance threshold is established for annual volume fluctuations.

Special Issue Ratio: An indicator of potential academic capitalism. A lower ratio relative to regular annual articles is preferred, as it signifies a commitment to scholarly integrity over commercial interests. To uphold the principle of Amanah (trustworthiness) and prevent the commercialization of science, the maximum threshold is established at 25% of the total annual publication volume.

APC Ratio: An indicator of potential academic capitalism. It measures professional integrity in balancing publication fees with scholarly contribution. Charging fees above the subject area average signifies a shift toward commercial profit over Khidmah (service) and Qana’ah (contentment). To prevent the commercial exploitation of knowledge, journals must maintain reasonable fees that do not burden authors or the Ummah. Journals that maintain fees at or below the subject area average are awarded a Perfect Score (1.0), as they are considered to be supporting authors and the global dissemination of knowledge.

Pillar B: Scholar & Content Integrity (Weight: 30%)

Pillar C: Social & Global Impact (Weight: 35%)

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Calculating Scores per Pillar (SP)

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Calculating the Final Ranking Value

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DIsJ Predicate

Hailing from Aceh, Indonesia—a region historically renowned as the “Veranda of Mecca” and a cradle of Islamic intellectualism in Southeast Asia—he brings a unique and profound perspective to the global scholarly landscape. As a former lecturer and dedicated researcher, he has experienced firsthand the systemic barriers that often hinder the visibility of academic excellence within the OIC Member States.

Driven by the rich intellectual heritage of his homeland and a modern vision for “Digital Sovereignty,” he initiated the Directory of Islamic Journals (DIsJ). He developed this foundational blueprint to unify the intellectual output of the Ummah, ensuring that regional research is preserved and standardized.

However, he firmly recognizes that an infrastructure of this magnitude—aimed at achieving global credibility and academic independence—cannot and should not be managed individually. He is committed to offering this initiative as a collaborative asset, aspiring for it to be further developed and governed under the prestigious institutional umbrellas of ICESCO, COMSTECH and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). His goal is to bridge this foundational framework with the authority of these global institutions, ensuring that Islamic scholarship stands as a world-class, visible, and sovereign pillar of scientific progress.

Join the Movement: Reclaiming Our Intellectual Sovereignty

DIsJ is more than an indexing platform; it is a strategic movement to end digital colonialism and halt the systemic capital flight that has long marginalized the Islamic world. Your support is the key to building a self-sustaining ecosystem that empowers our researchers and protects our national assets.

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