TRADITIONAL VERSUS CREATIVE MINDSETS — Closed- and Open-Mindedness

Change in Field of Activity According to another Hadith contained in the Sahih Bukhari, the Prophet is said to have remarked that he had been instructed to proceed to another town, Medina, which people then referred to as Yathrib. Imam Bukhari has included this Hadith in his chapter on the glories of Medina. Now, those with a traditional approach will view this Hadith as providing information about the glories of Medina, and indeed this is what most exegetes of Hadith in the past have done. Some have even seen this Hadith as indicating that to refer to Medina as Yathrib is disapproved off (makruh). However, the Quran itself refers to Medina as Yathrib, and so this explanation of the Hadith is incorrect. But, if one goes beyond the blind imitation of the past exegetes and ponders on this Hadith from a creative perspective, one learns that it speaks about a very important Islamic principle—that of changing one's field or arena of action. This Hadith indicates that when conditions became extremely severe and harsh for Muslims in Makkah, God commanded the Prophet to shift from there to another town, Yathrib, where he and his followers would find a more propitious atmosphere, so much so that it would become a centre of Islam and people would start referring to it as the 'City of the Prophet' or Madinat al-Rasul or the 'City of Islam' or Madinat al-Islam. The present generation needs an encyclopaedia of genuine Hadith traditions written in a creative style that would enable a proper understanding of them. This principle of shifting one's arena of activity—if conditions so demand—which this Hadith refers to, is important for success in various matters. It indicates that if in a certain place conditions are inappropriate, one should shift to another place, or that if conflict is likely to prove useless, one should seek to achieve one's objectives through peaceful dialogue. Unfortunately, today's Muslim leaders, burdened by their traditional mentality, have not been able to appreciate and act on this wisdom, because of which they have themselves suffered considerable damage and loss. For instance, in several countries today, violent movements involving conflict in the name of Islam have resulted in Muslims having to suffer massive loss of life and property. Because of their traditional approach, the leaders of these movements have been unable to appreciate the underlying message of this Hadith of the Prophet. They would have been able to