The Hadith
Abu Masud Uqbah ibn Amr al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
“From the words that people have preserved from the early Prophets is:
If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.”
Reference
Reported by al-Bukhari.
Explanation (From Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan)
In this hadith the Prophet mentioned a statement that has been preserved from the teachings of the previous prophets.
The statement:
“If you feel no shame, then do as you wish”
does not mean that a person is permitted to do whatever he wants. Rather, it is a warning and a form of rebuke.
The meaning is that when a person loses the quality of modesty (haya), nothing will prevent him from committing sinful or shameful actions.
Modesty is a quality that restrains a person from wrongdoing and encourages him to act with dignity and proper behavior.
Because of this, modesty has always been considered a noble characteristic taught by the prophets throughout history.
This hadith shows that when modesty disappears, a person becomes more likely to commit sins openly and without concern.
Therefore, maintaining modesty is an important part of protecting one’s character and faith.
References
The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan. Dar Makkah International.
Verified on 2026-10-21 against: The Explanation of Imam an-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith (Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan), Hadith 20.