CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES

Contributor Guidelines

The Islamic Economist
The Voice of Africa’s Islamic Economic Movement

The Islamic Economist welcomes contributions from scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students, and activists who share our commitment to ethical economic transformation grounded in Islamic values and African realities. We are not a neutral platform. Contributors must understand and respect our ideological, intellectual, and ethical standards.

1. Editorial Orientation

The Islamic Economist exists to advance Islamic Economics as a moral, systemic alternative to exploitative economic models. Contributions should:

• Challenge economic injustice and structural inequality

• Offer Islamic ethical perspectives rooted in justice, dignity, and shared responsibility

• Move beyond critique toward constructive alternatives

We publish work that is principled, rigorous, and relevant.

2. Who May Contribute

We accept submissions from:

• Academics and researchers

• Policymakers and public officials (in personal capacity)

• Development practitioners and professionals

• Entrepreneurs and ethical investors

• Students and emerging scholars

• Activists and civil society actors

Institutional affiliation is welcome but not required. Intellectual seriousness is.

3. Types of Contributions

a. Feature Essays (1,200–2,500 words)

• Systemic critiques of economic models

• Islamic economic theory and moral economy analysis

• Africa-focused development challenges and alternatives

b. Policy Briefs & Reform Proposals (800–1,500 words)

• Clear problem definition

• Islamic ethical framing

• Actionable policy recommendations

c. Applied & Practice Pieces (800–1,500 words)

• Case studies

• Project insights

• Institutional experiences and lessons learned

d. Opinion & Commentary (600–1,000 words)

• Informed viewpoints

• Must still meet intellectual and ethical standards

e. Youth Voice (600–1,200 words)

• Student and early-career perspectives

• Activist reflections and campus-based insights

• Mentored where necessary

4. Core Editorial Standards

All submissions must meet the following non-negotiable standards:

a. Ideological Alignment

Content must:

• Respect Islamic ethical economics

• Avoid normalizing interest-based finance, speculative markets, or extractive growth

• Treat Islamic Economics as a coherent moral system, not a branding exercise

Disagreement is welcome. Disrespect or dilution is not.

b. Intellectual Rigor

Submissions must be:

• Logically structured

• Evidence-informed (citations encouraged where relevant)

• Free from sweeping claims without support

Opinion is welcome. Intellectual laziness is not.

c. African Grounding

Content must demonstrate:

• Awareness of African political, institutional, and social realities

• Relevance to African economies, even when discussing global issues

Abstract theorizing without context will be rejected.

d. Constructive Orientation

Critique must point toward:

• Islamic alternatives

• Policy options

• Institutional reforms

• Practical pathways

Despair and cynicism have no place here.

5. Prohibited Content

The Islamic Economist does not publish content that:

• Promotes interest (riba) as acceptable or inevitable

• Serves corporate, partisan, or donor agendas disguised as analysis

• Is promotional, advertorial, or PR-driven

• Incites hatred, sectarianism, or personal attacks

• Plagiarizes or misrepresents sources

6. Style & Tone Guidelines

Contributors should aim for writing that is:

• Clear and accessible (avoid unnecessary jargon)

• Serious without being academic for its own sake

• Critical without being polemical

• Confident without arrogance

We write with moral clarity, analytical discipline, and African consciousness.

7. Citations & Sources

• Hyperlinks are preferred for online sources

• Formal academic referencing is welcome but not required

• Qur’anic or classical references should be accurate and contextualized

• Data sources must be clearly identified

8. Disclosure & Conflicts of Interest

Contributors must disclose:

• Financial or institutional interests related to the subject matter

• Advisory, consultancy, or employment relationships

Failure to disclose conflicts may result in rejection or retraction.

9. Editorial Review Process

All submissions undergo:

1. Ideological & Ethical Review

2. Analytical & Quality Review

3. Contextual Relevance Check

Editors may:

• Request revisions

• Edit for clarity and length

• Reject submissions that do not meet standards

Editorial decisions are final.

10. Rights & Republishing

• Contributors retain copyright

• The Islamic Economist retains first publication rights

• Republishing elsewhere must acknowledge original publication

11. Submission Process

Submissions should include:

• Article title

• Author name and short bio (50–80 words)

• Institutional affiliation (if any)

• Disclosure statement

Submissions may be sent via the website submission portal or designated editorial email.

12. Final Note to Contributors

The Islamic Economist is not a platform for comfort, branding, or careerism. It is a space for intellectual courage, ethical seriousness, and constructive disruption.

If you write to be safe, this is not your platform.  If you write to be truthful, grounded, and useful — welcome.