Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) states: I heard my intimate friend, Abu al-Qasim (peace and blessings be upon him), say: "The thief is not a believer while he steals; the fornicator is not a believer while he commits fornication. Faith is more honoured in the sight of Allah Almighty than that." (Allamah Haythami says:) I say:
This narration is transmitted in the Sahih, but without these words: "Faith is more honoured in the sight of Allah Almighty than that."
Al-Bazzar recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Isra'il al-Mula'i, whom Yahya bin Ma'in declared thiqah (trustworthy) according to one report, while others declared him da'if (weak). I say: A hadith narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) will come later in the chapter on trials (fitan).
Hadith Referenceمجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد / كتاب الإيمان / 373
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعیف
Hadith Takhrij«اورده المؤلف فى كشف الاستار 116 ، أخرجه صحيح البخاري برقم: 2343، وأخرجه البحر الزخار المعروف بمسند البزار 10 - 18 برقم: 9716»