Religion, Extremism, and the Real Story of 9/11 Yes, the Islamic religion played a part in the 9/11 attacks, but it was not the whole cause. Al-Qaeda used an extremist, widely rejected interpretation of Islam to present violence as a religious duty. Its leaders also tied that message to political grievances, including U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia, U.S. policy in the Middle … [Read more...] about The Truth: Did Religion Play a Part in the 9/11 Attacks?