Strengthening Scopus Indexation to Preserve Religion and Knowledge in Islamic Academia of Asia and Europe
Background: The increasing emphasis on Scopus indexation has reshaped academic governance and knowledge production globally. In Islamic scholarly contexts across Asia and Europe, integrating core Maqashid Shariah principles—particularly Hifdz al-Din (preservation of religion) and Hifdz al-‘Ilm (preservation of knowledge)—into publication practices has become essential to align scientific rigor with ethical and spiritual values.
Methods: This study adopts a qualitative design using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on institutional policies, editorial guidelines, and academic publications from Islamic journals in Asia and Europe. The analysis examines how discursive practices influence ethical standards, epistemic priorities, and governance mechanisms in scholarly communication.
Results: Findings indicate that Scopus-oriented indexing enhances international visibility, citation impact, and cross-regional collaborations. Simultaneously, journals emphasizing Hifdz al-Din and Hifdz al-‘Ilm demonstrate greater adherence to ethical publication practices, critical-analytical reasoning, and socially responsible scholarship.
Discussion: Integrating religious and intellectual preservation principles moderates metric-driven pressures, fostering a balanced epistemic culture. Journals guided by these principles navigate tensions between global performance indicators and the moral, ethical, and spiritual responsibilities of Islamic scholarship.
Conclusion: Strengthening Scopus indexation within the framework of Hifdz al-Din and Hifdz al-‘Ilm improves scholarly visibility while safeguarding the integrity, ethical standards, and transformative mission of Islamic knowledge in Asia and Europe.
Novelty: This research provides a critical perspective on combining international indexing strategies with Maqashid Shariah values, emphasizing how Islamic academic institutions can enhance global recognition without compromising ethical, spiritual, and intellectual foundations.