Abstract

In order to undermine Islamic discourse and to strengthen the Western discourse, terrorism-related issues have become popular among researchers and political analysts in recent decades especially after September 11th, 2001 in the United States to the extent that many people claim that Islam and Muslims are the epitome of terrorism and violence. Hence, this article aims to investigate the roots of terrorism based on strategic and operational policies of Imam Ali against the Kharijites, as the first terrorist group claiming Islam. The main question outlined here is based as follows: what are the intellectual and practical contexts of formation of terrorist groups? The main hypothesis outlined here is as follows: Considering the strategic and operational policies of Imam Ali against the Kharijites, it is claimed that intellectual and practical contexts and roots of terrorist groups are based on targeted injection of interpretation and a deviated definition of Islamic beliefs and values.

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