Makkah newspaper

IN our intellectual circles, and perhaps also in the decision-making community, we have begun to adopt a universal policy that has been followed in many other countries: The disclosure of the secrets of the past ending their confidentiality.

There may be differences of opinion on the benefits of such a policy. However, we should know that other countries follow an organized system for such disclosures with decision-makers giving priority to duration, quality, timing, size and method.

Many of the documents that were unavailable 10 years ago are now in the hands of scholars, thinkers and researchers. We have heard and read about Western countries making use of such data for planning and development, which the main reason for their progress.

Unfortunately, we are still in the primitive stage doing things without any plan or methodology. However, I consider it as a healthy step toward doing things with objectivity and transparency. I have to admit that our society may have started doing it because of global pressure or a change of attitude and conviction.

Today we talk about old fatwas that are prone to mistakes, about faulty contracts concluded by former officials, and of the reasons behind certain decisions taken by officials to prevent one thing or permit another.

These officials, while they were in power, used to issue statements, release documents, make correspondence and take decisions and were always in the media limelight. They talked about incidents that took place at a particular point in time.

The trial of history with the intent of retaliation is a trap for the hasty and a mine of opportunity for hate mongers. At the same time, analyzing the past is an ornament for the wise and the key to devise new plans and narrow down differences.

My wish is that thinkers, researchers and scholars take advantage of the present interest in recollecting the past to develop new rules and frameworks for decision-making, issue fatwas or religious rulings and manage change to the better.

On the other hand, it will be calamitous if the main purpose of this exercise is to look for the evidence of past mistakes in order to justify the war with rivals.

Just as the majority holds the view that there is a state and statesmen for every era, the reasoning inevitably leads us to the fact that the good outcome of this change would inevitably lead us to change either by conviction or by the force of circumstance.

The achievements of the past have contributed to present results, which provide us confidence to draw the future vision. People who conduct studies and present their thoughts and ideas are free from factors that formulated old theories. This will inevitably bring about new trends with the support of the information revolution and technological advancement.

This takes us to the conclusion that every piece of information has its benefit with a new dimension, and every time has its information and explanation to lead us to greater heights of progress.