The teachings of the Qur'an (the Muslim holy book) teach peace and tolerance of those that do not share the Islamic faith. Islam does not promote the path of violence and terrorism to its followers. "There is a "jihad of the soul" in addition to the "jihad of the sword," and that Mohammed famously declared the first of these to be the greater jihad" (Walzer, 108) Most Muslims are very religious in their beliefs and practice their prayers five times daily, as prescribed by the Islamic religion (Walzer). The Qur'an teaches tolerance and patience to those not of their faith (Kurzman). Community outreach programs, such as the ones taught at the mosque in Newport News, Virginia, offer classes in learning about their faith and culture to those of other religions to promote understanding and cooperation within communities. .
"The root cause of religious zealotry is not religion, many leftist writers insist, but Western imperialism and the oppression and poverty it has bred"(Walzer, 109). As western culture encroaches on the Islamic world, women are receiving more rights globally. Many Islamic countries have opened schools to females and more women are wearing a looser scarf over their hair instead of the stricter hijab. Many Muslim women, especially in North America, have stopped wearing a head covering and have integrated their children into public schools. This loosening of the rules Muslims have previously practiced, is a loosening of their religious values. Islamic extremists use these loosening of traditions to promote hate towards western culture and society (Selbourne, 24). "Warriors for Islam, believing that they are under "infidel" threat, today range an increasingly frontier-less world" (Selbourne, 25). The modernization theory sees social and economic development as the precursor of democratization. It also considers educational and economic empowerment as the best antidote against radicalization and terrorist recruitment.