Journal History

Originating from a small discussion forum in the corridors of the Faculty of Sharia at IAIN Metro, attended by professors with multidisciplinary expertise in contemporary Islamic law, MILRev is a publication platform for the discussed writings. MILRev is an acronym derived from Metro, one of the small cities serving as a center of civilization in Lampung province. Islamic Law is the primary sub-theme explored by scholars, while 'Review' signifies the critique and exchange of arguments to complement and criticize the examined themes for a more comprehensive understanding.

MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review is a journal published by the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Metro, an Islamic higher education institution in Indonesia. Its history dates back to the early 21st century when IAIN Metro recognized the need for an academic platform focused on multidisciplinary studies of Islamic law. The establishment of MILRev was motivated by the necessity to promote research, analysis, and scholarly discussions on Islamic law in contemporary contexts. Various contemporary issues of Islamic law, including family, Islamic economics, and Islamic criminal law, as well as other legal issues, are the primary focus of this journal.

First published in 2022, MILRev originated as a progressive publication platform and a significant forum for academics, legal practitioners, as well as Islamic thinkers to share research findings and thoughts. The journal aims to provide a space for researchers to develop new ideas, foster critical thinking, and promote a better understanding of contemporary Islamic law. Over time, MILRev has continued to evolve and become widely recognized in the field of contemporary Islamic law studies. The published articles in MILRev comprise various methodological approaches and perspectives, reflecting the diversity of thought within the academic community.

In the early publications, MILRev aimed to broaden its scope for national and international readership by implementing titles, abstracts, and keywords written in English. Since the inaugural edition of Vol. 1, No. 1 in June 2022, MILRev has published a total of 10 manuscripts authored by writers from 3 countries, namely India, Turkey, and Indonesia. Similarly, in Vol. 1, No. 2, December 2022 edition, 10 manuscripts were published by writers from 3 countries, including Vietnam, Nigeria, and Indonesia. MILRev continues to improve to expand its impact through indexing efforts at both national and international levels. In the first year, MILRev used indexing services such as Google Scholar, Garuda, Moraref, Crossref, and Dimensions. It also serves as a crucial platform in fostering intercultural and interfaith dialogue through research, considering the implications of contemporary Islamic law in multicultural and multi-religious societal contexts.

With a continuous commitment to maintaining high academic standards and relevance to contemporary issues, MILRev remains an influential journal in the field of contemporary Islamic law studies in Indonesia and worldwide. Therefore, starting from Volume 2, Issue 1 in June 2023, MILRev decided to fully publish in English. Articles are then limited to only 6 manuscripts, ensuring stringent quality through peer review by internationally standardized reviewers. Accordingly, 6 manuscripts were published with authors from 3 countries, namely Pakistan, Nigeria, Indonesia. The same applies to Volume 2, Issue 1 in December 2023. MILRev is increasingly recognized internationally, with authors affiliated outside of Indonesia showing a growing interest in publishing the best manuscripts. Consequently, there were authors from 5 countries, including Turkey, Italy, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

MILRev continued its efforts for the development of publication quality and reaching a wider audience at the beginning of 2024. This is evidenced by the recognition received from the Rumah Jurnal IAIN Metro Awards, which appreciates MILRev as a progressive new journal. Furthermore, MilRev has been indexed by reputable indexing institutions such as DOAJ. As a result of these efforts, in Volume 3, Issue 1 of 2024, MILRev is increasingly favored by authors from various countries to publish manuscripts. In this edition, there are authors affiliated with 16 campuses spread across 10 countries, namely Morocco, Germany, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Hungary, and Afghanistan.

Observing the rapid growth and achievements of MILRev, the management team is increasingly motivated to improve the quality and impact of the journal. Therefore, in early 2024, MILRev would undergo accreditation assessment by Sinta (Indonesia), and submission for international-level indexing in April 2024, such as Scopus to amplify the positive impact of the journal and contemporary Islamic law studies. These efforts aimed to benefit not only national authors and readers but also international authors and readers.