Beyond the finish line (Part III)
By Yusuf Bulafu
(Inspired by the paradigm of finite and infinite games as articulated by James P. Carse)
Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Worthy Rivals: Competing to Elevate
In finite games, rivals are enemies. In infinite games, rivals are necessary. They push us to reexamine, refine, and to stretch beyond our comfort. A worthy rival isn’t someone we want to destroy, it’s someone who reminds us that we’re not done growing.
One of the clearest examples comes from the corporate world, particularly the decades-long dynamic between Apple and Microsoft. At one point, Microsoft focused heavily on competing with Apple; obsessing over how to beat them in market share, product launches, and branding. Apple, on the other hand, eventually chose to play a different game. Instead of trying to beat Microsoft, it committed to making “insanely great products” that would reshape how people experienced technology. Their mission was not to win against someone, but to innovate beyond everyone. That reorientation didn’t just make them successful; it made them leaders of an entirely new space.
That’s the essence of an infinite competitor: you don’t obsess over others; you get inspired by them. Their success reveals your blind spots. Their excellence exposes your laziness. But your goal isn’t to defeat them, it’s to improve yourself. In Islam, this concept is both ethical and spiritual. The Qur’an instructs: “Race one another in good deeds.” (2:148) Not in fame, not in wealth, but in khayr. The idea is not to outrun your brother so you can boast, but so you can raise the bar for both of you.
One of the most heartwarming examples of this is found in the friendly rivalry between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb. When the Prophet ﷺ called for donations to support the army of Tabūk, ‘Umar was confident that he would finally outgive Abu Bakr that day. He brought half his wealth; an extraordinary act. But when Abu Bakr arrived, he had brought everything he owned. ‘Umar, rather than feeling humiliated, is reported to have said: “I will never be able to outdo him.” This wasn’t competition to defeat but rather to elevate. Both men walked away better.
Even in scholarship, Muslim thinkers have long used rival opinions to sharpen their own understanding. The rigorous debates between the jurists of legal schools or between theologians like al-Ghazālī and the philosophers of his time were not acts of destruction but dialectics of refinement. When conducted with etiquette, such rivalries become gardens of growth.
But not all rivalry is healthy. Envy (ḥasad) poisons the heart and distorts perspective. The Prophet ﷺ warned against it, saying, “Do not envy one another… and be, O servants of Allah, brothers.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim) The difference between envy and aspiration is intent. Envy wants the other to fall. Aspiration wants to rise; with or beyond them, but not at their expense. A finite rival blocks your view whereas a worthy rival reveals your weaknesses.
In the prophetic model, competition becomes a mirror, not a weapon. It helps you see yourself more clearly. The true believer thanks Allah when they see someone ahead of them with motivation. That is why the Prophet ﷺ advised us: “Look at those above you in religion, and those below you in worldly matters.” (Tirmidhī) In spiritual matters, you strive to rise and in material matters, you stay grateful.
The one obsessed with beating others is still playing a finite game. The one moved by others to surpass themselves is walking the infinite path.
