So the next time you see a video of an ustazah publicly shaming a young mother over her nail polish or a teenager over his shorts, remember: you have a choice. You can share it with a laugh and a label—“kantooi ustazah terlampau”—or you can be part of a kinder alternative. Gently remind the corrector of the Prophet’s way. Privately support the corrected. And pray for a community where religious guidance feels like a warm hand, not a public whip.
Wisdom. Good instruction. Best manner.
Have you experienced or witnessed “kantooi ustazah terlampau”? Share your thoughts below (with names and places removed, please). Let’s discuss how we can build a more compassionate religious culture. kantooi ustazah terlampau
For the uninitiated, the term kantooi (a colloquial, slang-laden spin on the English word “cant”) refers to publicly correcting, exposing, or “calling out” someone—often in a blunt or humiliating manner. Pair that with ustazah (a female religious teacher) and terlampau (excessive or over the top), and you get a loaded cultural meme: the image of a religious instructor who goes too far in publicly shaming someone over Islamic rulings, dress code, pronunciation, or daily habits. So the next time you see a video
No “kantooi” required.
They are saying: “We respect religious learning, but we do not respect cruelty.” They are drawing a line between tarbiyah (nurturing education) and tahqir (humiliation). Privately support the corrected
Yes, Islamic teachings include accountability. Yes, commanding good and forbidding wrong is a noble duty. But as the Quran reminds us: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” (Surah An-Nahl, 16:125)