Earlier this month news broke about a #metoo incident in Pakistani media. The alleged abuser: Ali Zafar, the alleged victim of abuse: Meesha Shafi.

Meesha Shafi’s statement

Ali Zafar’s statement

pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC

— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018

I know and have little affinity for either “celebrity”. The entire concept of “celebrity” is utterly lost on me but that’s a topic for another day! This is just my disclaimer, I am impartial, I don’t know either of their work in the remotest of senses and the first I saw of this news was in the form of a tweet from an Egyptian activist and writer who I follow on twitter: Mona Eltahawy. If you are really interested in tabloid gossip, you can go to both parties’ Twitter pages to read their respective statements (I confess I did). My problem though is less about which side is telling the truth. I take issue with the weighing of judgement from completely uninvolved-twitter-scrolling passers-by. It’s the comments section beneath each statement that gives rise to plentiful concern.

A friend who works in the industry just messaged me saying "Thank god someone finally spoke up about it" — seems @AliZafarsays predatory behaviour is known to many – well done @itsmeeshashafi

— Atika Rehman (@AtikaRehman) April 19, 2018

So you have a hugely successful music and acting career — make millions through brand endorsements — and you are married with a kid

So why would you do something like this

Perhaps because you think you can, and because you can get away with it

Let's hope that changes

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 19, 2018

Few seem to question what “these incidences” are? Many seem to naively believe everything written, either for or against one side and frequent the one-upmanship that ensues in a twitter battle, that demonstrates little except who is more controlled by their nafs (ego) and therefore must brazenly defend their opinions to the bitter end. A place where facts and evidence are not given weight, or seriousness, provided by those we do not know, we cannot testify to the trustworthiness of their character to be a carrier of such heavy news.  It sounds insane but this is what many comments reveal is the status quo. Both men and women alike are guilty of this.

I am a woman but I worry about my brothers and sisters in equal measure; I cannot carte blanche accept anything a woman says just because I am one.

Belonging to a specific gender doesn’t mean we defend them without complete sense or understanding. If this were the way the world worked, then surely, I could only be best friends with someone who only saw the world through my eyes. I actually hate it when people are the same as me. Variety is the spice of life,  a topic I am passionate about, having written about it previously.

Your gender association does not predetermine the correctness of something. The human condition is governed by its control over its nafs (ego/desires). Your ability to speak the truth is not predicated on your gender but on the condition of your heart.

It may well be that Ali Zafar is guilty of sexual misconduct just as it may well be that Meesha Shafi is guilty of slander and embellishment or fabrication of the truth. The truth is we will never know because we know neither person nor were we privy to their professional or personal relationship. This is perhaps why I posit that the spectators around this discussion are not actually helping anyone. Unless we are in a position to help one or both parties, It doesn’t actually benefit the victim of abuse or slander, it certainly doesn’t benefit us as onlookers. In our dunya or akhira.

Justice should be reserved for a system which is qualified, impartial and equipped to handle it and twitter is not such a place.

This isn’t about a battle between genders but holding ourselves to account regardless of the gender that we associate with, and a reminder that Twitter is not a Supreme Court of Justice where airing such grievances will garner anything except foul, ignorant opinions to both parties involved.

The #metoo movement is giving women the confidence they need to speak out;  if sexual misconduct is not publicised, certain men will continue to harass women as a pastime; a sport. But what about the ridicule victims of slander face from trolls on Twitter?   Allah only knows the truth, yet, as bystanders, it is not our job to become a Twitter jury to fan the flames of injustice, instead, we must have tawwakul and (trust) in His justice.

I always feel incredibly uncomfortable when I read such news in my feed and I am reminded of this Hadith:On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:”Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.” [Tirmidhi and Hadith 12 of Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith]