Indexing and Abstracting

AKSEN Journal of Contemporary Islamic Law (AJCIL)

1. Purpose

Indexing and abstracting services increase the discoverability, citability, and credibility of a journal's published content by including its metadata (and sometimes full text) in searchable databases used by researchers, libraries, and institutions worldwide. This document sets out AJCIL's indexing status and strategy.

2. Current Indexing Status

As of this draft, AJCIL has not yet been submitted to, reviewed by, or accepted into any indexing or abstracting service. This is expected for a newly launching journal — most indexing bodies (especially selective ones) require a journal to demonstrate a track record of consistent publication (commonly 2–4 published issues, sometimes more) before an application is even eligible for review.

Important: Do not publish any public-facing claim that AJCIL is "indexed in [X]" or display a database's logo on the journal's website until that database has formally confirmed acceptance in writing. Prematurely or falsely claiming indexing status is a recognized marker of predatory or non-credible journals and can seriously damage the journal's credibility with authors, institutions, and legitimate indexing bodies themselves.

3. Indexing Strategy — Phased Approach

Given typical eligibility timelines, AJCIL's indexing strategy is best approached in phases:

Phase 1 — Immediately Achievable (from launch)

These generally do not require a formal application/review process or a minimum publication history, and are appropriate near-term targets:

  • Google Scholar — indexes content automatically through web crawling once articles are online with proper scholarly metadata (no application process, but proper HTML/PDF metadata tagging is required for reliable indexing).
  • Registration of DOIs via a DOI registration agency (e.g., Crossref) — while not itself an index, DOI registration is typically a prerequisite for later inclusion in citation-tracking and indexing services, and enables reference linking.
  • [Placeholder: BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) and similar OAI-PMH harvesters — these typically index open access repositories/journals with relatively low barriers, but requirements should be confirmed directly with the service before listing it as a target.]

Phase 2 — Achievable After a Track Record (typically after 2–4 consistent issues)

  • DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) — a widely respected index for open access journals; application requires demonstrating compliance with DOAJ's own published best-practice criteria (e.g., clear peer review process, editorial board, ISSN, consistent publication).
  • [Placeholder: Indonesian national indexing/accreditation systems relevant to a journal published by an Indonesian institution — e.g., SINTA/Garuda (Kemendikbudristek) and Moraref, for Islamic studies journals specifically — eligibility criteria, application procedures, and current status should be confirmed directly with the relevant Indonesian ministry/body, as these systems and their requirements change and I have not verified their current criteria.]
  • [Placeholder: subject-specific indexes for Islamic studies/law, such as ATLA Religion Database or similar — presence and application requirements should be verified directly rather than assumed.]

Phase 3 — Longer-Term / More Selective (typically after a longer, established track record)

  • [Placeholder: Scopus and Web of Science (Clarivate) — these are highly selective citation databases with rigorous, multi-year evaluation criteria (editorial quality, citation impact, international diversity of authorship/editorial board, regularity of publication). They should be listed only as long-term aspirational goals, not near-term targets, and specific eligibility criteria should be checked directly on Elsevier's (Scopus) and Clarivate's (Web of Science) own websites when the journal is mature enough to consider applying.]

4. Prerequisites to Strengthen Future Indexing Applications

To improve AJCIL's eligibility for indexing services over time, the editorial board should ensure, from the outset:

  • Consistent, on-schedule publication according to the stated biannual (January/July) frequency;
  • A complete and permanently accessible archive of all published issues;
  • An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) registered for the journal — [placeholder: confirm registration status/authority, e.g., via the Indonesian ISSN National Centre (PDII-LIPI/BRIN) for an Indonesia-based journal];
  • DOIs assigned to every article via a recognized registration agency;
  • A clearly documented, functioning peer review process (already drafted; see Peer Review Process document);
  • A publicly listed, active editorial board with identifiable institutional affiliations;
  • Complete and accurate article metadata (title, abstract, author ORCID iDs where possible, keywords, references) in a machine-readable format;
  • Compliance with the journal's own stated ethics, open access, and copyright policies in practice, not merely on paper.

5. Author Guidance

Authors are encouraged to register for an ORCID iD (a free, persistent researcher identifier) and include it with their submission, as many indexing and metadata systems increasingly rely on ORCID to disambiguate author identity and track scholarly output.

6. Updates to This Page

This Indexing and Abstracting page will be updated to reflect AJCIL's actual, confirmed indexing status as applications are submitted and (where successful) accepted. Only indexing relationships that have been formally confirmed in writing by the relevant service will be listed or represented with a logo/badge on the journal's website.