Horrific as this was, those of us who have studied Islam, understand that this act was a total violation of everything that Muhammad taught. We should not attribute this act to Islam, anymore than the tarring and feathering of the Blacks in the South, could be attributed to the Teachings of Christ. If you study Islam, you will understand that Muhammad was one of the Divine Revelators, that He brought a Book which is a mine, a Treasury, of Divine knowledge. and that the Koran is an authentic collection of the Words of His Revelation. It's unfortunate that it's not well known in the West. If you read the Koran no one will need to tell you the source of that wondrous inspiration. To impute the acts of 9/11 in any way with the religion of Islam, reveals the total and gross ignorance of the originator. The Arab tribes to whom Muhammad appeared were in the lowest depths of savagery and barbarism, compared to whom the savages of Africa and the wild Indians of America were as advanced as a Plato. The savages of America did not bury their children alive as did these Arabs their daughters. They were idolators, who were perpetually warring and fighting, killing one another and devastating each other's property, capturing women and children whom they would sell to strangers. They could have endless numbers of wives. Muhammad single handedly civilized these people, raised women up from chattal and created the idea of nationhood with laws and treaties. Muhammad never fought against the Christians whom He treated kindly and gave perfect freedom. The Jews and Christians he termed the people of the Book. Of them He said, "If anyone infringes their rights, I Myself will be their enemy, and in the presence of God I will bring a charge against him." In the edicts which He promulgated it is clearly stated that the lives, properties and honor of the Christians and Jews are under the protection of God, and that if a Muhammadan married a Christian woman, the husband must not prevent her from going to church, nor oblige her to veil herself, and that if she died, he must place her remains in the care of the Christian clergy. He did His utmost to create love and brotherhood between His followers and the people of the Book. The Enlightener and Educator of these Arab tribes, and the Founder of the civilization and perfections of humanity among these different races, was an illiterate Man, Muhammad. One more point, the concept of jihad means to war against your ego, the self, it's a spiritual battle all of us humans should undertake. It has absolutely nothing to do with killing other human beings. To believe otherwise is an aberration of the interpretation of Muhammad's teachings and a gross display of ignorance.