Umm Al-Qura University Journals require all authors to practice responsible, accurate, and ethical citation. Citations serve to acknowledge prior scholarship, establish academic context, and substantiate the claims and methodologies advanced within the present research. Improper citation practices—including excessive self-citation, citation manipulation, and source distortion—undermine scholarly integrity and will not be tolerated.
This policy is grounded in international editorial principles and standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Association of STM Publishers.
Principles of Responsible Citation
Authors are expected to:
Cite all primary sources that have directly influenced their research (e.g., foundational theories, methodologies, and datasets).
Accurately represent the content and findings of the cited literature.
Include only sources that they have personally examined and critically appraised.
Ensure that all cited references are relevant, credible, and issued by recognized academic or scientific bodies.
Avoid disproportionate citations from a single author, journal, institution, or research group.
Self-Citations
Self-citations must be strictly limited to instances where they maintain genuine, direct relevance to the study at hand. Excessive, unmerited, or gratuitous self-citation constitutes a prohibited form of citation manipulation.
The editorial boards of Umm Al-Qura University Journals rigorously scrutinize manuscripts exhibiting unusually high rates of self-citation. Authors may be required to revise their references should citations be deemed superfluous or intended primarily to inflate citation metrics.
Journal Self-Citations
Authors are under no obligation, nor are they encouraged, to cite articles previously published in Umm Al-Qura University Journals, unless such works are fundamentally pertinent to their research. Editors, peer reviewers, and editorial staff are strictly prohibited from exerting any pressure on authors to cite the journal as a condition of acceptance. Any citation recommendations must be strictly rooted in scholarly merit.
Citing Retracted, Unverifiable, or Predatory Sources
Authors must refrain from citing retracted, predatory, or unverifiable publications, unless deemed strictly necessary for historical context or critical discourse. In such exceptional circumstances, the retracted or contested nature of the source must be explicitly disclosed within the text. If cited, the reference list must include an explanatory note, such as:
"This publication has been retracted and is cited solely for historical reference."
Umm Al-Qura University Journals actively discourage the citation of non-peer-reviewed or unreliable sources, unless they are critically pertinent and accompanied by a compelling scholarly rationale within the context of the study.
Integrity and Accuracy of References
All references must be:
Comprehensive and fully aligned with the designated journal citation style.
Properly formatted, incorporating all required bibliographic metadata.
Thoroughly verified for accuracy regarding author names, publication year, volume, issue, page ranges, and Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), where applicable.
Cross-referenced and verified against primary source material.
References containing substantial inaccuracies or broken digital links may impede the peer-review process or delay final publication.
Citation Styles
Umm Al-Qura University Journals adopt standard citation and referencing formats (such as APA 7th Edition, Chicago Notes and Bibliography, or Vancouver), in accordance with the specific academic discipline.
Authors must rigorously adhere to the formatting guidelines detailed in the Instructions for Authors. Internal consistency in referencing style is mandatory throughout the manuscript.
Editorial Review of Citation Practices
Editorial teams and peer reviewers systematically evaluate all submissions with regard to:
The relevance, contextual merit, and necessity of cited works.
The balance, breadth, and diversity of scholarly literature (e.g., avoiding overreliance on a narrow cohort of researchers).
Indicators of citation manipulation (e.g., citation cartels, citation stacking, or coercive citation practices).
Manuscripts exhibiting irregular citation patterns may be returned to the authors for requisite remediation or, in cases of severe ethical breach, rejected outright.