ILS Review: Submission Guidelines

The Islamic Literary Society welcomes thoughtful and well-crafted writing that contributes to the study, appreciation and discussion of literature, culture, history and the intellectual heritage of Islam. The ILS Review seeks work that is engaging, original and accessible to both general readers and those with a particular interest in Muslim literary and intellectual traditions. We particularly welcome writing that encourages serious reading, critical reflection and meaningful engagement with the literary life of Muslims in Britain and the wider world.

Poetry and Prose

We welcome original poetry and short fiction and other forms of literary prose. Submissions should demonstrate care in language, originality of thought and literary merit. Poetry should normally be submitted as a single document containing no more than six poems, while prose submissions should normally consist of two short story or literary piece. Submissions should be unpublished at the time of submission and should be the author’s own work. We do not accept work generated by artificial intelligence. Creative work need not be explicitly Islamic in subject matter. However, submissions should remain compatible with the values and editorial character of the Islamic Literary Society. Work that is religious in nature should not contradict the principles of Sunni Islam. We will also not publish material that is gratuitously offensive, defamatory or deliberately abusive towards individuals, religious communities or other groups. Please submit your work as a Microsoft Word document. A brief author biography of approximately three or four lines should accompany the submission, together with your name and email address. A telephone number may also be provided where appropriate. Please do not design or heavily format your manuscript; a clean and straightforward document is preferred.

Articles and Essays

The ILS Review welcomes essays and articles that explore literature, Islamic intellectual history, Muslim cultures, society, history, ideas and related subjects. We are particularly interested in work that combines sound research with clear, engaging prose and that introduces readers to ideas, authors, texts or questions worthy of further consideration. Contributions may be analytical, reflective, historical or literary in character, but should have a clear purpose and argument rather than simply providing a summary of their subject. Articles should be accessible to an informed general readership while maintaining appropriate scholarly standards. Authors should avoid unnecessary academic jargon and ensure that quotations, factual claims and references are accurate. Where sources are required, references should be provided clearly at the end of the article rather than through excessive footnoting. Articles and essays should normally be 3000–3500 words

Book Reviews

The ILS Review publishes critical reviews of books and other significant literary or intellectual works, with particular interest in works relating to Islam, Muslim societies, literature, history, culture, theology and the wider humanities. We are interested in reviews that do more than describe a book. A strong review should consider the author’s principal argument or literary purpose, assess the strengths and weaknesses of the work, and place it within a wider intellectual or literary context where appropriate. Reviewers are encouraged to engage critically and fairly with the work under consideration. Comparisons with other authors, books or traditions may be useful where they illuminate the subject. Reviews should be written for readers rather than simply summarising the contents of a publication. Book reviews s should normally be 1000–2000 words

Book Recommendations

The ILS Review welcomes thoughtful recommendations of books that deserve wider attention. We consider literature, history, Islamic studies, philosophy, biography, social thought, poetry, fiction and other works of intellectual or cultural value. Books need not be exclusively Islamic; we are interested in works that offer literary, intellectual, cultural, ethical or educational benefit. A recommendation should briefly introduce the author and book, outline its central subject or ideas, and explain why it is worth reading. Contributors may discuss its literary or scholarly qualities, originality, significance and relevance to contemporary readers. Comparisons with other works may be included where helpful.

Recommendations should be engaging, accessible and fair rather than academic or overly critical. We particularly welcome works by Muslim authors, overlooked or translated literature, important works of Islamic scholarship, and books from diverse cultures and historical periods. Each submission should include the book’s full bibliographical details, including title, author, publisher and year of publication, as well as the translator or editor where applicable. Quotations should be brief, accurate and properly attributed. Recommendations should normally be 500–1000 words and should avoid lengthy chapter-by-chapter summaries. Contributors should focus on the book’s principal ideas, contribution and value to readers. The recommended book should normally have been read in full. Submissions should reflect the contributor’s own engagement with the work and must not reproduce material from publishers or other reviews. Authors, publishers, editors and readers are welcome to suggest books. Submission does not guarantee publication; the editorial team will select recommendations based on their literary, intellectual, cultural and educational value and relevance to The ILS Review readership.

Originality and Rights

Authors retain the copyright to their work. By submitting a contribution, authors grant the Islamic Literary Society permission to publish and promote the work in the ILS Review and through its associated platforms. Contributors are welcome to republish their work elsewhere after publication, but we ask that the original appearance in the ILS Review is acknowledged. Submissions should be unpublished unless prior agreement has been obtained from the editorial team. If an author needs to withdraw a submission, they should contact the editorial team as soon as possible and, where practicable, at least two weeks before the scheduled publication date.

Editorial Process

All submissions are subject to editorial consideration. Publication is not guaranteed and the editorial team may request revisions before acceptance. We aim to respond to submissions within two weeks. If you have not heard from us after this period, please assume that we are unable to accept the submission on this occasion. The ILS Review reserves the right to edit accepted contributions for clarity, grammar, length, house style and consistency. Substantive changes will normally be discussed with the author.

Style

The ILS Review uses British English and British conventions of spelling, punctuation and dates. Contributors should write clearly and avoid unnecessary complexity. Titles and headings should be concise. Arabic names and terminology should be rendered consistently, with transliteration used where it assists the reader. Quotations should be accurately reproduced and appropriately attributed. References should be complete and consistent, including the author’s name, title, publisher, place and date of publication and relevant page numbers where applicable. Footnotes should be avoided unless genuinely necessary. For general submissions, please use a simple Word document in Times New Roman, twelve-point font, with double spacing and page numbers. Do not add headers, footers, decorative formatting or unnecessary design elements. Italics may be used where appropriate, but bold should not be used for emphasis. Poetry may follow its own spacing and formatting where this is essential to the presentation of the poem.

Proofs

Where appropriate, authors of accepted articles, essays and other substantial contributions may receive page proofs before publication. Proofs will normally be sent electronically. At this stage, authors should restrict amendments to essential corrections and factual errors rather than substantial rewriting.

Author Biography

Please provide a brief biography of approximately three or four lines. This may include your current occupation or affiliation, relevant publications, areas of literary or academic interest, and any other information that would help readers understand your background as a writer. The Islamic Literary Society welcomes contributions from established and emerging writers alike. Our aim is to provide a thoughtful literary space in which Muslim readers, writers and thinkers can engage seriously with books, ideas and the written word.

All submissions should be sent by email to submissions@islamicliterarysociety.com.