There was a man who would shamelessly drink alcohol on the street in front of anyone. He had no shyness whatsoever and just did as he liked.

When a famous scholar passed by, he brazenly approached him and asked who he was. When he said that he was a scholar of hadith, the man asked him to tell him one saying of the Prophet (pbuh).

Being a discerning man, the scholar recited: “If you feel no shame, do as you wish.” [Bukhari]This pierced the man’s heart and changed him completely. He decided to change completely and devote himself to learning.

This man went from being an alcoholic to a student of Imam Malik (RA) and later became a muhadith (scholar of hadith).

Our words can change someone’s life. And anyone can change their life.