TRADITIONAL VERSUS CREATIVE MINDSETS — Closed- and Open-Mindedness

understand the import of this Hadith if they had a creative approach. In that case, and in accordance with the principle enunciated by this Hadith, they would have abandoned the path of conflict and adopted peaceful means instead. Following that, in accordance with the law of nature, they would have succeeded. From these above-mentioned examples it has been sought to clarify the distinction between the taqlidi (traditional) and ijtihadi (creative) approaches. The former stops at the initial stage and refuses to move ahead. In contrast, the latter proceeds through many stages, seeking a logical conclusion. The first step is the end in itself for those who abide by tradition, but for those inspired by and committed to creativity, it is a means, a path to the higher stages. Stages of Studying the Hadith The early scholars of Hadith made an immense contribution by collecting and compiling a vast number of traditions. This could be described as the first stage in the study of Hadith. In what could be called the second stage, the next generation of Hadith scholars prepared indices of Hadith in order to make the subject easier to understand. In the third stage of the development of the study of Hadith, the Companions of the Prophet and the two generations that succeeded them edited and compiled the commentaries on Hadith, thus preparing the necessary background material for a proper understanding of Hadith. The fourth stage in the study of Hadith entails studying them in their particular temporal context in order to appreciate their broader meaning and implications. A sincere attempt at this has been made with regard to selected Hadith traditions dealt with above. The fifth stage in the study of Hadith could be to prepare an extensive encyclopaedia of all genuine Hadith traditions so as to enable people to properly understand them in a style with which they are familiar. These stages suggested in the study of Hadith are not categorical or final. Rather, these are offered simply for the purpose of indicating the differences between a traditional and a creative way of understanding, and to point out the benefits of the latter. o