Ma`rifat Siyasi

Terrorism, as one of the most serious threats to the contemporary world, is not merely a security crisis but a complex philosophical and ethical problem. The existence of theoretical arguments that attempt to justify this phenomenon morally or politically makes a deeper examination of its foundations all the more necessary. This study addresses the fundamental question: What are the main philosophical arguments used to justify terrorism, and what critiques have been offered against them from Western and Islamic perspectives? Using an analytical-critical method and library sources, the article first explains the key justificatory arguments for terrorism and then critiques them from both Western philosophy and Islamic thought. The findings indicate that such arguments face fundamental challenges. Finally, a philosophical and legal analysis of verse 32 of Surah al-Māʾidah demonstrates that the Qur’an, by explicitly prohibiting the killing of an innocent human being, considers any terrorist act absolutely and unconditionally unjustifiable.