Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Avert the hudud (prescribed punishments) as much as you can; if you err in pardoning, that is better than erring in punishing. If you see any way out for a Muslim, then avert the hadd from him.
It is munqati' (disconnected) and mawquf (stopping at the Companion).
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الحدود / 17062