1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, findings, arguments, methods, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment, presenting them as one's own. It may occur in published or unpublished materials, regardless of the source or format.

Authors must clearly distinguish their own contributions from material obtained from other sources. All borrowed ideas, quotations, paraphrases, data, and other relevant contributions must be appropriately cited and referenced.

2. Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism and related forms of improper attribution may include, but are not limited to:

• Direct plagiarism: copying words or passages from another source without quotation marks or proper acknowledgment.
• Paraphrasing plagiarism: rewriting another person's ideas or arguments without adequate citation or presenting the material too closely to the original wording.
• Idea and data plagiarism: using another person's concepts, research data, findings, tables, figures, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.
• Source misrepresentation: providing inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information about the origin of cited material.
• Self-plagiarism: reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without transparent disclosure and appropriate citation, or presenting previously published material as new and original.
• Duplicate or redundant publication: submitting or publishing substantially overlapping work without proper disclosure, justification, or reference to the related publication.

3. Plagiarism Screening Procedure

Submitted manuscripts are screened by the editorial team using plagiarism-detection software, such as Turnitin or other appropriate similarity-checking tools available to the journal.

The screening process generally includes the following steps:

1. The editorial team examines the similarity report during the initial manuscript assessment.
2. Editors review matched passages and consider whether they are properly cited, quoted, or referenced.
3. Editors assess the sources and context of similarities, including potential overlap with the authors' previous publications.
4. If concerns arise, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for clarification or revision, rejected, or referred for further investigation, depending on the seriousness of the case.

A similarity score is an indicator for editorial assessment, not a definitive finding of plagiarism. Properly cited quotations, reference lists, standard terminology, and common methodological expressions may contribute to a similarity score and must be interpreted in context.

4. Editorial Actions and Sanctions

When plagiarism or improper attribution is suspected or identified, the editorial team evaluates the case according to the extent of the overlap, the significance of the material involved, the presence or absence of attribution, and the author's explanation.

Editorial decisions are made on the basis of the evidence and the seriousness of the violation. Authors may be contacted for clarification before a final decision is reached, where appropriate.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Prophetic are expected to:

• Submit original scholarly work that has not been plagiarized from other sources.
• Provide accurate citations and complete references for all sources used.
• Use quotation marks or appropriate formatting when reproducing exact wording from a source.
• Ensure that paraphrased material accurately represents the original source and is properly cited.
• Disclose relevant overlap with their own previously published work.
• Ensure that tables, figures, instruments, images, and other third-party materials are properly attributed and that permission is obtained where required.
• Cooperate with the editorial team if questions arise regarding originality or attribution.

6. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to handle suspected plagiarism fairly, objectively, and confidentially. Any concern should be supported by relevant evidence and evaluated in context. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by an author's institutional affiliation, nationality, personal relationships, or other irrelevant considerations.

Individuals involved in assessing a case must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and, where necessary, withdraw from the decision-making process.

7. Plagiarism in Published Articles

If plagiarism is reported after an article has been published, the journal will assess the allegation and review the available evidence. The authors may be contacted for an explanation, and relevant parties may be consulted when appropriate.

Depending on the findings, the journal may publish a correction, issue an editorial notice, retract the article, or take other appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies. Any action will be proportionate to the seriousness of the issue and aimed at protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

8. Policy Implementation

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to Prophetic: Professional, Empathy, Islamic Counseling Journal and to concerns involving articles already published by the journal. The editorial team is responsible for implementing the policy consistently and for considering each case on its individual merits.

Authors are encouraged to review the journal's author guidelines and publication ethics policies before submission to ensure that their manuscripts meet the journal's standards of originality and academic integrity.