In Sahih al-Bukhari, there is a narration from Abu Huraira in which the Prophet Muhammad said: “I have been commanded to migrate to a town which will swallow other towns. They call it Yathrib, but it is Madinah” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1871).
Imam al-Bukhari included this Hadith in his Sahih under the chapter, ‘The Virtue of Al-Madina.’ If later generations interpret this Hadith with an imitative mindset, they will derive only issues related to the virtues of Madinah. Consequently, most commentators on this Hadith have confined their discussions to this context. For example, many Hadith commentators argue that it is disliked (makruh) to call Madinah by its old name, Yathrib and that it should only be referred to as Madinah or Madinah Munawwarah.
However, the Quran uses the term Yathrib for Madinah (33:13), which contradicts this interpretation. To reconcile this, some scholars have explained, based on personal conjecture, that the Quran is merely quoting the words of non-Muslims (Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari, Vol. 4, p. 105).
If we move beyond imitative thinking and approach this Hadith with independent reasoning, it becomes evident that the Prophet Muhammad was outlining an important principle of the Islamic method. This principle can be summarized as the “change of the field of action.” It highlights that when the situation in Makkah became difficult for Muslims, God commanded them to migrate to another city, Yathrib, where conditions were more favourable. Yathrib then became the centre of Islam and was called Madinat al-Rasul (the City of the Prophet) or Madinat al-Islam (the City of Islam).
In contemporary times, this principle is invaluable for achieving practical success. It can be referred to as migration (hijrah). It emphasizes that if favourable conditions are not found in one place, one should move to another. If an objective cannot be achieved through confrontation, it should be sought through reconciliation. If success is not attainable through violence, it should be pursued through peace.
Historical events reveal that many Muslim leaders in the present era, due to their imitative mindset, have failed to grasp this profound wisdom. As a result, they have incurred enormous losses. For instance, violent movements in the name of Islam have caused tremendous loss of life and property. However, had these leaders embraced independent reasoning, they would have found guidance in the aforementioned Hadith. Consequently, they would have abandoned violent methods and adopted peaceful approaches, achieving success in accordance with the laws of nature.
This comparison underscores the difference between imitative thinking and independent reasoning. In essence, imitative thinking is akin to stopping at the first step, while independent reasoning involves climbing successive steps to reach the top. The first step, though initially important, serves as a foundation, for without it, subsequent steps cannot exist.
