Prophetic: Professional, Empathy, Islamic Counseling Journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that errors may occasionally occur during manuscript preparation, peer review, publication, or after an article has been published.

This policy establishes the procedures for correcting errors, withdrawing manuscripts before formal publication, and retracting published articles when necessary. All decisions are made carefully, fairly, and transparently, with consideration of research integrity, publication ethics, author responsibilities, and the interests of readers.

1. General Principles

The journal handles corrections, withdrawals, and retractions in accordance with established publication ethics principles and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Editorial decisions are based on the nature and seriousness of the issue, the available evidence, and the potential impact on the scholarly record.

The journal applies the following principles:

• Integrity: Maintaining the reliability and accuracy of published research.
• Transparency: Providing clear explanations for editorial actions when appropriate.
• Fairness: Giving relevant parties an opportunity to respond to concerns.
• Accountability: Holding authors and editors responsible for their respective roles.
• Public interest: Protecting readers and the scholarly community from misleading or unreliable research.

2. Correction Policy

A correction may be issued when an error is identified in a published article but does not invalidate the overall reliability of the research, its principal findings, or its conclusions.

Examples of issues that may require a correction include:

• Errors in author names, affiliations, or other publication metadata.
• Typographical, numerical, or factual errors that require clarification.
• Incorrect references, citations, tables, figures, or labels that do not undermine the main findings.
• Omissions or inaccuracies in acknowledgments, funding statements, or declarations that require amendment.
• Other errors that could cause confusion or misinterpretation if left uncorrected.

Depending on the nature and origin of the error, the journal may publish an erratum, corrigendum, or another clearly identified correction notice. The notice will describe the error and its correction, identify the affected article, and provide a link to the original publication.

Corrections will be processed in a timely manner after the editorial team has assessed the issue and verified the information. The original article will remain part of the scholarly record, with the correction notice linked to it.

3. Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawal applies primarily to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published. A manuscript may be withdrawn when there is a valid and documented reason that justifies discontinuing the editorial or publication process.

Possible reasons for withdrawal include:

• Submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.
• A substantiated request from the author or authors based on a legitimate reason.
• Identification of serious ethical concerns before publication.
• Discovery of plagiarism, fabricated data, falsified results, or other substantial breaches of publication ethics.
• Significant authorship disputes or the absence of required permissions that cannot be resolved before publication.
• Other circumstances that make continued consideration or publication inappropriate.

Withdrawal procedure:

1. The corresponding author submits a written withdrawal request to the editorial office, stating the manuscript title, submission identification number, reasons for withdrawal, and confirmation of agreement from all authors where applicable.
2. The editorial team reviews the request and determines whether withdrawal is justified.
3. Where ethical concerns or disputes are involved, the journal may request supporting documents or clarification from the relevant parties.
4. The corresponding author is informed of the editorial decision.
5. Once approved, the manuscript status is updated in the journal's editorial management system.

Authors should not withdraw a manuscript unilaterally while it is under consideration without notifying the editorial office. Withdrawal requests intended to avoid an ongoing investigation into suspected misconduct may be declined or handled under the journal's research misconduct procedures.

Once an article has been formally published, removal is not treated as an ordinary manuscript withdrawal. Any subsequent action must follow the correction, retraction, or exceptional removal procedures appropriate to the circumstances.

4. Retraction Policy

Retraction is considered when there is compelling evidence that a published article is unreliable or that a serious breach of publication ethics has occurred. Retraction is intended to correct the scholarly record and alert readers to substantial problems with the publication.

Grounds for retraction may include:

• Clear evidence that research data or findings are fabricated or falsified.
• Plagiarism or substantial unattributed duplication of previously published work.
• Duplicate publication that significantly misrepresents the originality of the research.
• Serious methodological, analytical, or factual errors that invalidate the main findings or conclusions.
• Unethical research involving human participants, including serious violations of informed consent or research ethics requirements.
• Manipulation of the peer-review process or other serious publication misconduct.
• Material authorship or permission issues that fundamentally affect the legitimacy of the publication.
• Other substantiated circumstances in which the article's reliability or integrity cannot be maintained.

Retraction is not imposed solely because authors disagree about an interpretation, because findings are negative, or because a study fails to confirm a hypothesis. The decision must be supported by the evidence and the seriousness of the identified problem.

5. Retraction Procedure

When a potential reason for retraction is identified, the journal follows a documented process designed to ensure a fair assessment.

The duration of an investigation depends on the complexity of the case, the availability of evidence, and the responses of the parties involved. The journal seeks to handle cases promptly without compromising procedural fairness.

6. Publication of Retraction Notices

When a retraction is approved, the journal publishes a clear and accessible retraction notice. The notice should include:

• The title and bibliographic details of the affected article.
• The article's DOI or another persistent identifier, where available.
• A clear statement that the article has been retracted.
• The reason for retraction, explained as specifically as possible while respecting confidentiality and applicable legal obligations.
• The party or parties responsible for the retraction decision, where appropriate.
• The date of the retraction notice.

The retraction notice will be linked to the original article and made publicly accessible. The article will ordinarily remain available in the journal's archive to preserve the scholarly record, but it will be clearly marked as retracted. Relevant publication metadata and DOI records will be updated where applicable and technically possible.

The journal will not silently remove a published article merely because its findings or publication status have been challenged. Exceptional removal may be considered only when legally required or necessary to address serious risks, such as a significant privacy or safety violation. Any such action will be documented and explained to the extent permitted by law.

7. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of their submitted and published work. They must:

• Notify the editorial office promptly when they discover a significant error in their published article.
• Cooperate with editorial investigations and provide relevant supporting information when reasonably requested.
• Explain the nature and potential impact of any identified error.
• Submit correction requests when appropriate and provide accurate replacement information.
• Refrain from duplicate submissions or unauthorized attempts to remove an article from the publication record.
• Ensure that withdrawal requests are made transparently and with appropriate communication among the authors.

Prompt and responsible disclosure by authors is encouraged. However, the journal independently determines the appropriate editorial action based on the evidence and applicable publication ethics standards.

8. Responsibilities of Editors

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team are responsible for ensuring that concerns about published research are handled fairly and consistently. Their responsibilities include:

• Assessing reported errors and ethical concerns objectively.
• Requesting additional information from authors or relevant parties when necessary.
• Maintaining confidentiality during investigations, subject to legitimate disclosure requirements.
• Avoiding conflicts of interest in decisions concerning their own work or close collaborators.
• Issuing corrections or retraction notices when justified by the evidence.
• Maintaining appropriate records of the concern, investigation, decision, and resulting action.

9. Appeals and Disputes

Authors who disagree with a decision concerning correction, withdrawal, or retraction may submit a written appeal to the editorial office. The appeal should identify the decision being challenged, explain the grounds for reconsideration, and include relevant supporting evidence.

Where appropriate, the appeal will be assessed by an editor who was not directly involved in the original decision or by an independent expert. The journal may maintain its original decision, revise the action, or request further investigation, depending on the evidence.

An appeal does not automatically suspend a correction or retraction notice when prompt action is necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record. All parties are expected to communicate professionally and provide accurate information throughout the process.

10. Confidentiality and Record Keeping

Information relating to reported errors, withdrawal requests, and retraction investigations will be handled confidentially to the extent appropriate. Access to case information is limited to individuals who need it to assess or resolve the matter, except where disclosure is required by law or necessary for a legitimate investigation.

The editorial office maintains records of the concern, evidence considered, correspondence, editorial decisions, and any correction or retraction notice issued. These records support accountability, consistency, and the preservation of publication history.

11. How to Report an Error or Ethical Concern

Readers, researchers, authors, and other interested parties who identify a potential error or ethical concern involving an article published in Prophetic are encouraged to contact the journal's editorial office through the official contact information provided on the journal website.

A report should include the following information:

• The title and DOI or URL of the article concerned.
• A clear description of the suspected error or ethical issue.
• Supporting evidence, references, or relevant documentation.
• The reporter's contact details, where provided, to facilitate clarification.

Reports submitted in good faith will be considered seriously. The journal does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who raise legitimate concerns about research integrity. Anonymous reports may be considered when they provide sufficiently specific and verifiable evidence.