The Editor-in-Chief will assign the manuscript to the Managing Editor for further handling. The Managing Editor will request at least two scientists to review the research article manuscript. All manuscripts are subject to double-blind peer review, where both the reviewer's and author’s identities are concealed from each other, ensuring adherence to the academic standards. All papers undergo thorough peer review. We only publish articles that have received approval from qualified researchers with expertise in the relevant field, with a minimum of two reviewers per article. Al Muhkam upholds the standards of double-blind peer review while streamlining the process. Key characteristics of the peer review process for all research articles published in the journal are outlined below:

1. Al Muhkam employs a two-stage process: After the technical check, your submission will undergo an initial review by the editorial team to assess its suitability for publication in the journal. If deemed suitable, it will then be assigned to one of the editors for the review and decision-making process.
2. If your manuscript aligns with the scope and meets the criteria of the Al Muhkam, your paper will be assigned to an Editor. The Editor will identify and contact two reviewers who are recognized experts in the field. Since peer review is a voluntary service, it may take some time, but please be assured that the Editor will regularly remind reviewers to ensure timely responses. During this stage, the status will be labeled as “Under Review.”
3. Once the Editor has received the minimum number of expert reviews, the status will change to “Required Reviews Complete.”
4. It is also possible that the Editor may determine that your manuscript does not meet the journal’s criteria or scope and should not be considered further. In such cases, the Editor will promptly inform you that the manuscript has been rejected and may recommend a more suitable journal.

Peer review of referred papers:

Editors of the Al Muhkam will promptly decide whether to accept, reject, or request revisions for referred papers based on the reviews and editorial insights from supporting journals. Editors also have the option to seek additional reviews when necessary. Authors will be advised when Editors decide that further review is required. The editor will first review submitted articles for adherence to the topic and writing style guidelines. All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review, with both reviewer and author identities remaining confidential throughout the review to maintain academic excellence.

In summary, the steps in the process are as follows:

1. Manuscript Submission (by the author).
2. Manuscript Check and Selection (by the manager and editors).
3. Editors have the authority to directly accept, reject, or review. Before proceeding to further steps, each manuscript undergoes a plagiarism check using Turnitin.
4. Manuscript Reviewing Process (by reviewers).
5. Notification of Manuscript Acceptance, Revision, or Rejection (by the editor to the author based on reviewer comments).
6. Paper Revision (by the author).
7. Revision Submission based on Reviewer Suggestions (by the author) following a process similar to point number 1.
8. If the reviewer is satisfied with the revision, the editor notifies the author of acceptance.
9. Galley proof and publishing process.

The steps from point number 1 to 5 constitute one round of the peer-review process (see the gray area in the figure). The editor or editorial board evaluates the feedback provided by the peer reviewers and makes a decision. The following are the most common decisions:

1. Accepted as is: The journal will publish the paper in its original form.
2. Accepted with Minor Revisions: The journal will publish the paper and request the author to make minor corrections within a specified timeframe.
3. Accepted with Major Revisions: The journal will publish the paper provided the authors make the changes suggested by the reviewers and/or editors within a specified timeframe.
4. Resubmit (conditional rejection): The journal is willing to reconsider the paper in another round of decision-making after the authors make major changes.
5. Rejected (outright rejection): The journal will not publish the paper or reconsider it even if the authors make major revisions.