Sulayman bin Buraydah (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that Ma'iz bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Purify me." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Woe to you! Go back and seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him." He went a short distance, then came back and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Purify me." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Woe to you! Go back and seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him." He went a short distance, then came back and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Purify me." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said the same again. When he came the fourth time, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "From what shall I purify you?" He said: "From adultery." He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Is he insane?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) was told that he was not insane. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Has he drunk wine?" A man stood up and tried to smell the breath of Ma'iz (may Allah be pleased with him), but found nothing. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Are you married?" He said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" Then, on his (peace and blessings be upon him) order, he was stoned. The people then split into two groups. Some were saying that Ma'iz (may Allah be pleased with him) had perished because of his evil deed and that his sin had encompassed him, while others were saying: "No one's repentance can be better than the repentance of Ma'iz (may Allah be pleased with him), for he came himself, placed his hand in the hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked to be stoned to death." The narrator said: Two or three days passed, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came while the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were sitting. He (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the greeting of salam and sat down, then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Seek forgiveness for Ma'iz." The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "May Allah forgive Ma'iz bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He has repented with such a repentance that, if it were divided among an entire nation, it would suffice them all."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الإقرار / 11449