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سنن ابي داود
Abu Dawud
كتاب الأدب
General Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)
باب فِي السَّتْرِ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِ
Chapter: Concealing (the fault of) a Muslim.
Sunan Abu Dawud 4891 — Concealing (the fault of) a Muslim
حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ نَشِيطٍ ، عَنْ كَعْبِ بْنِ عَلْقَمَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِي الْهَيْثَمِ ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ : " مَنْ رَأَى عَوْرَةً فَسَتَرَهَا كَانَ كَمَنْ أَحْيَا مَوْءُودَةً " .
Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir: The Prophet ﷺ said: He who sees something which should be kept hidden and conceals it will be like one who has brought to life a girl buried alive.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
If a Muslim ever makes a mistake, then exposing his secret is by no means an act of righteousness; rather, sincere advice should certainly be given to him.
However, if someone is a habitual criminal and an open sinner (fasiq fajir), then concealing his faults is not appropriate, because this would only increase him in his immorality and wickedness.
Therefore, his complaint should definitely reach the ruler or judge so that he may be reformed.
If a Muslim ever makes a mistake, then exposing his secret is by no means an act of righteousness; rather, sincere advice should certainly be given to him.
However, if someone is a habitual criminal and an open sinner (fasiq fajir), then concealing his faults is not appropriate, because this would only increase him in his immorality and wickedness.
Therefore, his complaint should definitely reach the ruler or judge so that he may be reformed.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4891
