Concealing a thief's offence

Zuyayd bin al-Salt says: I heard Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: "If I were to catch a drinker of wine, what I would love is that Allah, the Lord of Glory, should conceal him; and if I were to catch a thief, what I would love is that Allah, the Lord of Glory, should conceal him."

Ikrimah says that a bag belonging to Sayyiduna Ammar (may Allah be pleased with him) was stolen at Muzdalifah. He placed a large bowl on its trail and called the trackers. They said: "It is an Abyssinian." They followed his track until they reached a garden, and the Abyssinian was turning the bag over. He took his bag and let the Abyssinian go. He was asked about this, and he said: "I concealed him; perhaps Allah will conceal me as well."

Ikrimah says that Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), Sayyiduna Ammar and Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them) caught a thief and then let him go. I said to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): "You all did wrong when you let him go!" At this he said: "May your mother perish! If you had been in his place, you would surely have wished to be let go."