TRADITIONAL VERSUS CREATIVE MINDSETS — Closed- and Open-Mindedness

that they have written as gospel truth. Many ulema of the past have commented on this Hadith, offering various theories for the Prophet's action, with some claiming that this practice [of standing up when the funeral procession of a non-Muslim passed by] was later abrogated, or that the Prophet did so because he did not want the body of a Jew to be at a level higher than that of his head, and so on. Now, all these explanations are based on personal speculation and lack adequate proof. This Hadith very clearly indicates that the Prophet stood up out of respect for the dead man [and not for any of the reasons that these Hadith commentators had suggested]. In other words, this Hadith is not simply about burial, as those with a traditional mindset would imagine. Rather, it is a fine example of having respect for humankind, irrespective of religion, as those with a creative mind-set would be able to perceive. It could be offered as a counter to those who claim that while Islam preaches respect for fellow Muslims, it does not do so with regard to people of other faiths. This Hadith, if approached in a creative manner, can be presented as evidence of the Islamic principle that all human beings are worthy of respect, no matter their religion or community. The Hadith in which the Prophet stood up when the funeral procession of a non-Muslim passed by, is a fine example of respect for humankind. On the other hand, if this Hadith were approached in a traditional fashion and were interpreted in the same way as those traditionalist commentators referred to, this Islamic principle would be completely lost to posterity. Practical Wisdom According to a tradition also contained in the Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet told his wife, Aisha, that when the Quraysh rebuilt the Kabah they did not do so on its original foundation as laid down by the Prophet Abraham, but had chosen to erect it on a different site. Hearing this, Aisha asked the Prophet why he could not restructure the Kabah on its original foundation. To this the Prophet replied that the Quraysh were newcomers to the fold of Islam and it was possible that if he were to do so, it might cause them to agitate. He added that, had there been no danger of that happening, he would certainly have done what Aisha had suggested.