Overview
The Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) is committed to conducting and supporting research that adheres to the highest ethical standards. This policy establishes the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and outlines its procedures for reviewing research involving human participants. The IRB ensures that research conducted under ILIA's auspices respects the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants while upholding:
Islamic principles of justice (Adl)
The Quran emphasizes justice throughout, with verses like: "Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful." (Quran, An-Nahl 16:90)Beneficence (Ihsan)
The Quran describes the characteristics of the believers as those who "They believe in Allah and the Last Day, encourage good and forbid evil, and race with one another in doing good. They are ˹truly˺ among the righteous.” (Quran, Ali 'Imran 3:114).
The Hadith (sayings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad) mentions the concept of Ihsaan in the famous Hadith Gabriel, where the Prophet describes Ihsaan as "worshipping Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, know that He sees you." (Sahih Bukhari)Respect for human dignity (Karama)
The Quran states that Allah created humanity with dignity and honor, stating, "Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures." (Quran, Al-Isra 17:70)
What is the ILIA Institutional Research Board (IRB)
Scope
The IRB reviews all research conducted under ILIA's auspices or involving its resources that involve human participants. This includes, but is not limited to:
Research projects initiated by ILIA staff or faculty.
Research conducted by external researchers affiliated with ILIA or utilizing its resources.
Research involving surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations (including recordings), or biological samples.
Research involving identifiable information about participants.
Purpose
To Ensure Ethical Research:
The policy establishes a framework for reviewing research involving human participants to guarantee it adheres to the highest ethical standards. This protects participants' rights, welfare, and dignity throughout the research process.
To Uphold Islamic Values: The policy integrates Islamic principles of justice (adl), beneficence (ihsan), and respect for human dignity (karama) into the research review process. This ensures research aligns with Islamic ethics while adhering to best practices in research conduct.
In simpler terms, the ILIA IRB policy aims to achieve ethical research that respects both human participants and Islamic values.
Ethical Principles
The IRB's review process is grounded in the following core ethical principles:
Sound Intention: All research should be for the intention to please Allah (swt) and in line with the practice of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).
Respect for Human Dignity: All research participants deserve respect for their autonomy, privacy, and well-being.
Justice: Research should be conducted fairly and equitably, ensuring no participant is unfairly burdened or excluded from potential benefits.
Beneficence: The potential benefits of research should outweigh the risks posed to participants.
Informed Consent: Participants must be fully informed about the research project, its objectives, potential risks and benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time.
These principles are further informed by relevant Islamic teachings, including Quranic verses and hadiths that emphasize fairness, compassion, and the importance of safeguarding human life and well-being
IRB's Functions
include:
Review research proposals to ensure they adhere to ethical principles and relevant regulations.
Evaluate the risks and benefits of the proposed research to participants.
Assess the adequacy of informed consent procedures.
Monitor ongoing research to ensure compliance with IRB-approved protocols.
Provide guidance and education to researchers on ethical research practices.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
ILIA is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all research participants. Researchers must ensure that
Data is collected, stored, and anonymized securely.
Participants are informed about how their data will be used and shared.
Data is only used for the purposes outlined in the informed consent document.
Consents should be stored for the required period by law or as outlined in ILIA’s Document Retention Policy.
All data, research work, methods, processes, intellectual property and participant information related to the research project shall follow ILIA’s Privacy and Confidentiality guidelines.
Do you want to be part of our IRB Committee?