Adapted from: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmi‘ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ‘Abd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
Narrated by ‘Abdullāh bin Mas‘ūd (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
*"Indeed, one of the sayings that the people have received from the earlier prophetic teachings is:
‘If you do not have modesty, then do whatever you wish.’"
Reported by al-Bukhārī
Takhrīj (Sources):
[Sahih al-Bukhārī: 3483, 3484]
The word "al-ūlā" (الأولىٰ — the earlier Prophethood) is not found in Bukhārī’s narration but is present in that of Abū Dāwūd.
This phrase indicates that this teaching is one of those universal moral truths which all Prophets (عليهم السلام) agreed upon. It has never been abrogated in any previous Shari‘ah due to its harmony with pure reason and natural disposition (fiṭrah). Even people of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah) recognized and accepted it.
This phrase can be interpreted in two ways:
First Meaning – Descriptive (Informative):
If a person loses the sense of modesty, they become capable of committing any immoral or shameful act without hesitation. Such a person will not feel restrained by any standard of decency.
This expression is similar in structure to:
"Whoever lies against me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Knowledge: 38)
That is, he will take his seat in the Fire — it is not a command but a statement of reality.
So here too, "Do whatever you wish" means:
"A person without modesty ends up doing whatever they desire, no matter how disgraceful."
Second Meaning – Warning and Reprimand:
Another interpretation is that this statement is a warning or threat. It is as if to say:
"Go ahead and do as you please — but know that Allah sees all your actions and you will be held accountable."
As Allah says in the Qur’an:
﴿اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ﴾
"Do whatever you wish. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of what you do."
(Surah Fuṣṣilat: 40)
That is, "Do as you will — but you will certainly face the consequences from Allah."
Modesty (ḥayāʾ) is a fundamental moral and spiritual value upheld by all divine messages. It acts as a shield against immorality and sin. When modesty is lost, a person becomes vulnerable to engaging in all forms of indecency without remorse.
This hadith, therefore, emphasizes that the presence of modesty is a sign of faith, while its absence indicates a heart that has been hardened and exposed to shamelessness. Both interpretations of the hadith point to the grave dangers of living without the virtue of ḥayāʾ.
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ‘Abd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
✦ Hadith
Narrated by ‘Abdullāh bin Mas‘ūd (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
*"Indeed, one of the sayings that the people have received from the earlier prophetic teachings is:
‘If you do not have modesty, then do whatever you wish.’"
Reported by al-Bukhārī
Takhrīj (Sources):
[Sahih al-Bukhārī: 3483, 3484]
The word "al-ūlā" (الأولىٰ — the earlier Prophethood) is not found in Bukhārī’s narration but is present in that of Abū Dāwūd.
✦ Benefits and Commentary
➊ What is meant by "from the words of the earlier Prophethood"?
This phrase indicates that this teaching is one of those universal moral truths which all Prophets (عليهم السلام) agreed upon. It has never been abrogated in any previous Shari‘ah due to its harmony with pure reason and natural disposition (fiṭrah). Even people of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah) recognized and accepted it.
➋ Meaning of the phrase: "If you do not feel shame, then do whatever you wish."
This phrase can be interpreted in two ways:
First Meaning – Descriptive (Informative):If a person loses the sense of modesty, they become capable of committing any immoral or shameful act without hesitation. Such a person will not feel restrained by any standard of decency.
This expression is similar in structure to:
"Whoever lies against me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Knowledge: 38)
That is, he will take his seat in the Fire — it is not a command but a statement of reality.
So here too, "Do whatever you wish" means:
"A person without modesty ends up doing whatever they desire, no matter how disgraceful."
Second Meaning – Warning and Reprimand:Another interpretation is that this statement is a warning or threat. It is as if to say:
"Go ahead and do as you please — but know that Allah sees all your actions and you will be held accountable."
As Allah says in the Qur’an:
﴿اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ﴾
"Do whatever you wish. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of what you do."
(Surah Fuṣṣilat: 40)
That is, "Do as you will — but you will certainly face the consequences from Allah."
❖ Summary
Modesty (ḥayāʾ) is a fundamental moral and spiritual value upheld by all divine messages. It acts as a shield against immorality and sin. When modesty is lost, a person becomes vulnerable to engaging in all forms of indecency without remorse.
This hadith, therefore, emphasizes that the presence of modesty is a sign of faith, while its absence indicates a heart that has been hardened and exposed to shamelessness. Both interpretations of the hadith point to the grave dangers of living without the virtue of ḥayāʾ.
