Navigating Opposition and Promoting Constructive Dialogue in the Context of Cancel Culture: Lessons from Islamic Teachings

Abstract

This paper explores the parallels between the historical struggle of Prophet Lūt in Sodom and the contemporary phenomenon of cancel culture within woke circles. It examines the nuanced Islamic teachings embedded in Sūratu Hūd verses 74-82 vis-à-vis the contemporary dynamics of cancel culture to foster a deeper understanding of the common threads that connect these seemingly disparate narratives. Prophet Lūt had in a revolutionary and vigorous manner challenged the prevailing norm of deviant sexual proclivity in defense of moral virtues, hence he got canceled. The city of Sodom was destroyed in a catastrophic event the like of which was never heard of throughout human history. This is because deviant sexual proclivity has become the norm rather than the exception in Sodom. In what appears to be a striking parallel, the Western liberal agenda is adopting a radical and revolutionary strategy to bring forth queer revolutionism as manifest in the five elements of the liberal idiom; ‘liberal’ religious ideals, gay rights, ‘academic’ liberalism, the discourse of hate, and the discourse of social justice. Hence the paper argues that Muslim ethicists should employ the Quranic methodology couched in Sūratu Hūd to constructively engage the liberal queer machinations in all its idiomatic elements in defense of pristine moral virtues. And unless the believers do so, there will be great oppression and corruption on earth.