While many stories remain anecdotal, several high-profile incidents have fueled the phrase.
A video surfaced of an ustazah approaching a young couple at a Ramadan bazaar. The woman was wearing a shawl that didn’t fully cover her chest. Instead of a quiet, gentle reminder, the ustazah raised her voice: “Ini bukan pakaian Muslimah! Kau malu-malu sikit!” The girl broke down in tears. Comments flooded in: “Kantooi ustazah terlampau. Depan ramai orang lagi.” kantooi ustazah terlampau
As the dust settles, the Malay digital sphere is divided into two camps. Instead of a quiet, gentle reminder, the ustazah
Camp A: The Executioners (The majority of comments) These netizens demand a permanent boycott. They argue that Ustazah should be held to a Hadith standard. Comments like “Buangkan dia dari industri. Murtad!” (Remove her from the industry. Apostate!) flood the reply sections. They argue that she has “insulted Islam” by making a mockery of its enforcers. Depan ramai orang lagi
Camp B: The Apologists A smaller, quieter group reminds the mob that Innama al-a’malu bin-niyyat (Actions are judged by intentions). They argue that Ustazahs are also human, prone to lust and error. However, this voice is drowned out quickly. As one user tweeted: “Kita bukan hukum dosa dia. Kita hukum ‘terlampau’ dia.” (We aren't judging her sin. We are judging her excess.)
A relatively small-following ustazah on YouTube began replying to polite questions from viewers with sarcastic, harshly worded corrections. One comment asked: “Ustazah, is it okay to recite Surah Al-Fatihah in English during learning?” The reply: “Macam mana nak belajar Islam kalau tak reti Bahasa Arab? Soalan bodoh.” Screenshots went viral, and even fellow asatizah criticized the response.