The Concept of Terrorism from the Perspective of Contemporary Islamic Political Thought

Research idea: Terrorism is a complex phenomenon that threatens many nations and peoples, foremost among them the Islamic nation with its diverse peoples and colors. This phenomenon has been linked to the essence of Islam and its holy book by the enemies of that nation and those who lie in wait for it in order to achieve their own ambitions and deviant goals.

Objectives: This research aims to clarify the concept of terrorism, the difference between it and legitimate jihad, the position of Islamic currents on the phenomenon, and to study the intellectual and political causes that led to the emergence of terrorism and propose solutions to curb this phenomenon.

Methods: I used a descriptive and analytical approach to explain the concept and analyze intellectual, political, and religious texts, as well as an inductive and critical approach to show how wrong it is to accuse Islam of terrorism.

Results: The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which are: the concept of terrorism differs according to the ideology and perspective of each group. It showed the big difference between jihad and terrorism, the former being legitimate and the latter being forbidden in all religions. The West's description of Islam as terrorism is intended to scare people away from it or to justify the occupation of some countries for their resources. Terrorist and extremist behavior is contrary to Islam and contradicts its principles of justice, ease, and mercy.

Conclusion: I have concluded that Islam prohibits terrorism and any act that attacks others or facilities and institutions, and distinguishes between terrorism and armed resistance, which is legitimate for the defense of the homeland, religion, self, and family. The West has erred in accusing Islam of terrorism, as it is based on the values of justice, mercy, and equality, and prohibits attacks on others. There are many causes of terrorism, including social, ideological, and others, and the only way to remedy it is to address these causes.