“I’m pointing out that Islamic extremists who murder and believe they have “martyred” other muslims for their non-jihadist interpretation(s) are not legitimate muslims.”
There is only one version of Islam. If you have read the 5 books (koran, muslims, bukhari, tabari, and ishaq) then you would know that there is no such thing as a “legitimate muslim”. There is only one kind. No other.
If you imagine that any of the acts of violence by “muslim extemist” is commited for monetary gain then you totally misunderstand their intents, and motivations. Islam is not a Middle Eastern version of Christainity - from which view point you seem to be looking at all of this. Islam is the antithesis of Christainity/Jedaiism.
Jihad is “normal muslim society”. Jihad is obligitiory for all muslims. The Mafia comparison is inept and misleading - the Mafia does what they do for money and power, jihadis do what they do because allah commanded all muslims to jihad.
When jihadis are not killing westerners, the are busy killing each other - why do you imagine the Saudis export their most violent imams to the west setting up wahhabist mosques? As any honest Saudi will tell you - it is because they fear them, and it is better to have them any where else than in Saudi.
As for the moderate or the normal muslim - those who have not done jihadi... yet, they best thought of this way:
“They also serve who only stand and wait.” - John Milton, in the poem “On His Blindness”.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read the Asia Times and Spengler, but here’s an illustrative joke about normal Islmic society:
A Comparative Tale of Two Religions
Christian vs. Christian
A man was despondent. His life seemed worthless. He decided to end it all and climbed up onto a bridge railing high above a raging river.
Just as he was leaning forward to make his final plunge, a man happened by and said, “Wait. Let me help you.”
“How can you help me? My life is over?”
“Are you a Christian, Jew, Hindu or Muslim?”
“A Christian”
“So am I! What denomination are you?”
“I used to be a Catholic, but have not been to mass in decades.”
“I’m a Protestant. Let me help you find your way back to life.”
“What can you possibly tell me?”
“I can tell you that Jesus loves you and for His sake and His love of you, you cannot take your life. There is so much more to live for.”
“Like what?”
“Children.”
“I don’t have any.”
“Neither do I. But there are still children in need of adults to guide them. Would you deny some child your wisdom and experience?”
“No, of course not!”
“Then step back and come with me.”
So the two men walked off together.
Muslims vs. Muslim
Far away in a distant land, another man stood on a different bridge.
A man was walking across a bridge one day, and he saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off and commit suicide.
He immediately ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” the other replied.
The man said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!”
“Like what?”
“Well… are you religious or atheist?”
“Religious.”
“Me too! Are you Muslim, Christian or Jewish?”
“Muslim.”
“Me too! Sunni or Shi’ite?”
“Sunni.”
“Me too! Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi or Maliki?”
“Hanafi.”
“Wow! Me too! Do you follow Sheikh Fulaan al-Fullani or Sheikh Kaza Kazah?”
“Sheikh Fulaan al-Fullani.”
To which the first man said, “What?!! Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off the bridge.
From: Spengler’s The Devil’s Sourdough and The Decline of Nations
“If you imagine that any of the acts of violence by “muslim extemist” is commited for monetary gain then you totally misunderstand their intents, and motivations.”
I should’ve referred to Saddam Hussein and how he would pay Islamic extremist’s families in US Dollars when one of them VOLUNTARILY martyred themselves and how no money was paid to any of the non-extremist muslim victims’ families- Sunni on Shiite, Shiite on Sunni, whatever. Either way, nothing is ever gained unless they martyr themselves right out of existence. That would be world’s gain and a loss to no one but Islamic extremists and other al Qaeda types.