Beyond the finish line (Part II)

By Yusuf Bulafu

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

Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

 A just cause: Vision rooted in transcendence

At the heart of any infinite game is a cause that outlives the player; a purpose that compels action even when rewards are delayed, unseen, or unattainable within a single lifetime. A finite cause seeks victory; an infinite one seeks meaning.

In secular history, some of the most powerful movements were driven not by the prospect of immediate results but by an unwavering commitment to a larger ideal. The U.S. Declaration of Independence, for instance, stated that “all men are created equal,” a phrase whose moral clarity inspired centuries of struggle, reform, and resistance. Though it took generations to even begin approaching that ideal and though it still remains unfinished, its power lies in its aspiration, not its implementation. Similarly, civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. mobilized entire communities around the dream of a future they may never live to see. Their cause was not about a single election or a moment of applause; it was about justice as an enduring moral commitment.

These movements had staying power because they weren’t built on personal gain. They were built on shared conviction; something that touches the soul, not just the ballot box or economic ledgers. A just cause gives suffering meaning, transforms sacrifice into legacy, and keeps the flame burning even when the winds rage.

In the Islamic paradigm, the just cause reaches even higher. It is not merely societal; it is divine. The very first call made by the Prophet Muhammad was a declaration of singularity: “Say Lā ilāha illa Allāh and you will be saved.” To say Lā ilāha illa Allāh was to sever allegiance from every false power: idols, kings, ego, wealth, tribalism, even the self. It was an act of rebellion against all who claimed divine attributes, whether political, social, or psychological.

This cause; tawhid, became the foundation of an infinite mission: to align every act, every intention, and every structure with the reality that only God is worthy of ultimate obedience. And this cause didn’t end with the Prophet. It passed through generations of scholars, martyrs, reformers, and seekers who each played their part in carrying the flame forward. The Qur’an repeatedly returns to this cause as a moral and civilizational anchor. “Say: ‘My prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.’” (6:162) That is the just cause of a believer; to live a life where every moment is aligned with sacred purpose.

A just cause makes loss bearable, gives meaning to delay, and allows the believer to act with long-term resolve. The Prophet endured the boycott, torture, slander, and loss not because of worldly strategy, but because he was driven by a vision larger than his time. He wasn’t trying to “win” in the way tribal leaders measured victory. He was living for the truth and trusting that Allah would bring the mission to fruition.

Unlike finite missions, which often rise and fall with charisma or popularity, an infinite mission is rooted in Sabr (steadfastness), Ikhlas (sincerity), and Yaqin (conviction). Its strength lies in its clarity: we are not here for ourselves. We are here to serve a cause that began before us and will continue after us. This is why Islam continues to renew itself through time. Empires rise and fall, scholars come and go, but the just cause remains: to attain Divine Pleasure.

A finite player asks: “How can I win?” An infinite player asks: “How can I stay true?” And in the game of life, only one of those questions leads to eternity.

To be continued …