Like a crab teaching it's children to walk straight

Assalamualaikum and may blessings of Allah be upon all of you.

Dear friends and readers,

Last week during a visit to my husband's friend's house, I was talking with the wife. She is a religious teacher at one of the prestigious Islamic school in this State. I was very glad that we got clicked quite fast even though we are just being introduced properly.

The sister is a bit younger than me but she called herself 'Kakak' because I think she's more matured than me with 2 daughters. There's no problem there and in a way, we get a bit closer like that.

Since my husband and her husband were busy talking to one another mostly about Internet Marketing and what not, both of us try to occupy our time by talking about social issues. From the topic of ZINA among the teenagers to the current hijab trends, the instant 'tudung' that can be spotted on many local women heads. Yes, the Malay Muslim.

She shared with me her constant disappointment with her colleagues, known here as USTAZAHs or religious teachers. How can an Ustazah teaches good fashion sense, (when I said that, it means Islamic fashion sense) when she herself is not appropriately covering herself according to our Islamic dress code.

For example, the Ustazah scolded her students for wearing a short instant 'tudung' like al-amira hijab that does not cover properly the aurah. Yet, the Ustazah was wearing a lycra hijab that was sticking to her body like a second skin. Yes, the size of the hijab is big but it is showing clearly the assets that should be hidden. So... is she teaching the correct thing?

In another case, female students were asked to came to school for Qiamullail and everyone were required to wear modest clothes aka properly covering the aurah. However, some of the women teachers who came to supervise, came in casual clothes and not even bother to wear proper hijab.

There is a Malay proverb that say that kind of attitude as 'Ibarat ketam mengajar anak berjalan lurus." The title is the direct translation of this proverb. Basically this proverb is trying to tell us not to say other people's way is wrong when we ourselves are not doing the right thing. So make sure we walk the talk if we want to teach or preach to others. If not others would not be listening or following out advice.

I hope I am not like those Ustazahs and I hope they'll realize their mistake soon before more people are disappointed with us.