Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Zaid bin As-Salt narrates that I heard Hazrat Abu Bakr saying: If I catch a drunkard, it is preferable to me that Allah, the Lord of Might, conceals his fault, and if I catch a thief, it is preferable to me that Allah, the Lord of Might, conceals his fault.

Hazrat Ikrimah narrates that Hazrat Ammar’s basket was stolen in Muzdalifah, so he placed a large bowl behind it and called for a tracker. The people said: It is an Abyssinian. They followed the tracks until they reached a garden, and the Abyssinian was turning it over. Hazrat Ammar took his basket and let the Abyssinian go. When he was asked about this, he replied: I concealed his fault, perhaps Allah will also conceal mine.

Hazrat Ikrimah narrates that Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), Hazrat Ammar, and Hazrat Zubair caught a thief, then they let him go. I said to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): All of you did wrong when you let him go! Upon this, he said: May your mother die, if you were in his place, you would surely wish that your way be left open.