Voice of British Muslim Women

Nadia Ghauri, Oxford

As human beings, it is in our nature to make mistakes. Forgiving them, by contrast, can be anything but easy. It is no wonder, then, that the poet Alexander Pope was to claim, ‘To err is human; to forgive, divine’¹. The highest form of forgiveness, as Pope alludes, is exemplified by Allah the Almighty. Allah is eternally ‘Al-Ghafur’, the Most Forgiving, ‘Al-Ghafaar’, the Great Forgiver, and ‘Al-Tawab’, the Oft -Returning with compassion. Islamic teachings instruct us to emulate God’s attributes as best as we can. But, of course, this is far easier said than done! Living in the era of social media, the act of forgiveness can pose a greater challenge with pressure to follow the crowd. All too often, users exploit their anonymity to spread negativity.

The interesting phenomenon of ‘cancel culture’ has rocketed in the last couple of years. It refers to the condemnation of an individual due to views or actions considered questionable. As a result, individuals and companies, often high-profile, lose a lot of support, be it a drop in follower numbers or withdrawn financial sponsorships. Lisa Nakamura, a professor at the University of Michigan, aptly describes it as “a cultural boycott” and discusses how it can have the power to damage someone’s livelihood².

In my opinion, publicly shaming an individual, group or company, then destroying their careers in such a way is at odds with the principle of forgiveness. While the notion of ‘cancelling’ people can be good as it pushes for accountability, at a deeper level it strikes me as being done for show. It is a fact of life that we will encounter individuals with different views. Our own opinions no doubt change too with experience and education. Our disagreement, or even offence, therefore does not warrant silencing or shaming others in a way that is dehumanising. Who are we to consider ourselves entitled to ‘cancel’ or silence other people because of their views? Those in society who are choosing to shut down people’s platforms or rip up their reputations are acting as self-appointed bastions of moral propriety. Ironically, they are closing up any space for improvement.

‘Cancel culture’ is a kind of virtue signalling that uses a subjective criteria of what is right and wrong. This criteria is often a generalisation that can chop and change according to different opinions, making it even more divisive. In order to promote peace, even on ‘virtual’ mediums, forgiveness is a kinder and more fruitful way of tackling the ignorance and prejudices pervading society. Forgiveness recognises that we are human by nurturing our growth, and the growth of those whom we forgive. As children, we grew up making mistakes! Despite this, it would never have crossed our mothers’ minds to cast us onto the streets or disown us. Rather, they forgave us, educated us and helped to reform us. ‘Cancel culture’ is denying people this kind of learning curve.

Forgiveness is remedial on both a personal and societal level. It is a process that benefits our own mental well-being just as much as it benefits the individual who has done something wrong. Why? Because it rids us of the negative feelings that bring us down and are often left to simmer unhealthily. Forgiveness is a means of converting this negative energy into a positive kind that promotes reflection and reformation. As God asserts in the Holy Qur’an;

“…but whoso forgives and his act brings about reformation, his reward is with Allah. Surely, He loves not the wrongdoers.” (42:41)

Forgiveness is thus a means of attaining God’s pleasure; something greater than any kind of material gain. This spiritual reward illustrates that when we forgive others, this is not just a gift to another person, but to ourselves as well – an opportunity for self-betterment on both sides. Emulating this attribute is a way for us to develop our inner peace and contentment. ‘Cancelling’ someone is therefore incongruous with the essence of forgiveness. This beautiful Islamic tenet allows for dialogue and a restorative justice which emphasises rehabilitation. Forgiveness is one method of minimising the harm the internet can do to our and others’ mental well-being.

If someone says something harmful on the internet or in our everyday ‘off-screen’ lives, be it generally or to us directly, it may cause deep anguish. There is no denying that forgiveness can be quite a test of faith and mental strength. However, it is more than just a single act or decision, it is a process, and one that is imbued with profound wisdom. It is a way of protecting both heart and mind. It may cost nothing to forgive, but it is invaluable for our personal welfare and that of people around us. Forgiveness empowers us – through it, our own and others’ mistakes become instruments of progress and of peace.

1. Pope, Alexander. An Essay on Criticism, Part II, 1711
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/28/style/is-it-canceled.html