Subject: Proposal to Integrate the Qur’an and Prophetic Hadith into Turnitin’s Similarity Detection System

Dear Turnitin Team,

Greetings,

We would like to submit a proposal concerning the treatment of sacred Islamic texts within Turnitin’s similarity detection system, with the aim of improving the accuracy, fairness, and academic integrity of similarity reports, particularly in Islamic studies, Sharia, jurisprudence, and related disciplines.

Research in Islamic and Sharia studies naturally contains frequent quotations from primary religious sources, especially the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Hadith. These texts are authoritative primary sources whose wording cannot be paraphrased or altered when cited for legal, theological, or academic purposes. Consequently, their inclusion in similarity percentages may sometimes increase the overall similarity score in a manner that does not accurately reflect improper textual borrowing or academic misconduct.

We therefore propose that Turnitin consider developing or integrating a verified database of the Qur’an and authenticated Prophetic Hadith into its similarity detection system, allowing these texts to be automatically identified and distinguished from ordinary academic sources.

We respectfully suggest that such a feature could include the following:

1. Integration of the complete text of the Holy Qur’an from a reliable and officially verified digital source, enabling the system to recognize Qur’anic verses when they appear in academic papers and dissertations.

2. Development of a verified database of Prophetic Hadith derived from authoritative Hadith collections, while taking into consideration variations in wording, different narrations, sources, and classifications of authenticity.

3. Identification of Qur’anic verses and Hadith quotations as a separate category within the Similarity Report, with their original sources clearly indicated, rather than automatically including them in the general similarity percentage.

4. Providing universities, academic institutions, or instructors with an optional setting to exclude recognized sacred texts from the final similarity score while keeping them visible in the report for transparency and academic review.

5. Maintaining the researcher’s obligation to provide proper academic citation. Excluding such texts from the similarity percentage should not exempt researchers from accurately citing the Qur’anic chapter and verse number or properly referencing and documenting Hadith sources.

6. Distinguishing between the sacred text itself and surrounding scholarly material. Qur’anic commentaries, Hadith explanations, juristic discussions, academic analyses, and other scholarly writings should continue to be evaluated under Turnitin’s standard similarity detection criteria.

7. Allowing educational institutions to activate this feature according to their academic policies, disciplinary requirements, and research standards.

Implementing this proposal could significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of similarity reports by distinguishing between legitimate quotation from foundational religious texts and potentially improper copying from scholarly or academic works.

Such an enhancement would be particularly valuable to universities, colleges of Islamic studies and Sharia, research institutions, academic journals, and postgraduate programs across the Muslim world and internationally.

We also suggest that Turnitin consider collaborating with recognized academic and religious institutions specializing in Qur’anic and Hadith studies to ensure the accuracy, authenticity, and reliability of the incorporated texts and their bibliographic data.

In the future, this initiative could potentially be expanded to include other foundational religious texts where appropriate, subject to clearly defined academic and technical standards.

We respectfully hope that Turnitin will consider this proposal as part of its future development of the Similarity Report and its broader commitment to supporting academic integrity, fairness, and accurate evaluation across diverse academic disciplines.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mohammed Salah
iraq
mo85sa85@gmail.com