Beyond the finish line

By Yusuf Bulafu

(Inspired by the paradigm of finite and infinite games as articulated by James P. Carse)

Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

In 1968, the world watched in disbelief as the Tet Offensive unfolded during the Vietnam War. Though militarily repelled, the offensive shattered the illusion of American dominance. It was a turning point not because the North Vietnamese had won a battle, but because they had revealed the true nature of the war: it wasn’t about winning or losing a single fight but about who had the resolve to outlast, out-believe, and out-vision.

This moment, like many in history, exposes the difference between two ways of thinking. Some play to win; others play to endure. Some fight for a scoreboard; others for something greater. Some measure success in moments, others in movements.

These two mindsets; finite and infinite, were originally distinguished by philosopher James P. Carse, who described finite games as contests with fixed rules, clear players, and defined endpoints, while infinite games are open-ended, ever-evolving, and driven by a purpose larger than the players themselves.

Inspired by Carse’s work, Simon Sinek popularized the concept of finite and infinite games in a business context, highlighting how organizations often falter by playing with a finite mindset, focused on short-term gains and outcompeting rivals when true, lasting success comes from adopting an infinite mindset, characterized by a commitment to a larger purpose and continuous adaptation. Building on this foundation, later thinkers have identified five core behaviors necessary to play the infinite game well: anchoring to a Just Cause, fostering Trusting Teams, learning from Worthy Rivals, embracing Existential Flexibility, and embodying the Courage to Lead.

When applied to leadership, faith, and purpose, this paradigm becomes a powerful lens. It explains why some movements crumble after their founder dies, while others thrive across centuries. It helps us understand why corporations that fixate on quarterly profits collapse, while those anchored in vision adapt and grow. And it helps us appreciate why Islam, despite persecution, the rise and fall of empires, and centuries of global upheaval, still pulses with life, resilience, and meaning.

The Prophet Muhammad did not play a finite game, pursue short-term control, settle for tribal loyalty, nor build a movement dependent on his presence. He planted a cause that would outlive him, shaped a community that would lead after him, and inspired a journey that would stretch until the end of time.

In every age, the ummah faces new challenges, but the mindset it needs remains the same. The believer is not called to win a worldly game. They are called to witness truth, embody justice, and endure in faith no matter how long it takes. On this journey, as long as we are still walking, still striving, and still enduring, we are still winning.

To be continued