Before the recent atrocities committed by ISIS, there were the haunting events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. On a day when nearly three thousand civilians were killed in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania, we learned that the perpetrators of the tragedy were Muslims who claimed to be acting in the name of Islam. What is more, televised images of some Muslims overseas rejoicing in the streets left indelible imprints in the minds of countless Westerners. Many were left to wonder how adherents of one of the world's largest religions could condone and even celebrate such barbarity and evil. English translations of the Qur'an quickly became bestsellers, and politicians and pundits throughout the world had much to say about the violent – or peaceful – nature of Islam. Occupying center stage in this global drama was the figure behind 9/11, Osama bin Laden.