Ali Imron, 30, was perhaps the favorite ustad (Islamic teacher) among the all-male santri (students) at the Al-Islam Islamic Boarding School in Tenggulun, Lamongan, East Java.

With a good sense of humor, Ustad Ali, as his santri called him, used to act as an effective matchmaker. That's at least the impression of Nasruddin, an Al-Islam student. If any male student was in love, according to Nasruddin, all he needed to do was to t