Encouragement for Concealing and Forgiving Sins
By: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
❖ Concept
- Covering the faults of others and forgiving them is better than exposing them to the ruler, as long as it does not involve harm to society.
- The Prophet ﷺ encouraged satr (concealment) of sins.
❖ Prophetic Aḥādīth
➊ The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Man satara musliman satarahu Allāh yawm al-qiyāmah.”
“Whoever covers (the faults of) a Muslim, Allāh will cover him on the Day of Resurrection.”
[al-Bukhārī: 2442; Muslim: 2580; al-Tirmidhī: 1426; Abū Dāwūd: 4893]
➋ Abū Hurayrah (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Lā yastur ʿabdon ʿabdan fī al-dunyā illā satarahu Allāhu yawm al-qiyāmah.”
“No servant covers another servant in this world except that Allāh will cover him on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Muslim: 2590]
➌ Another narration states:
“Man ʿalima min akhīhi sayyi’atan fasatarahā satarahu Allāhu ʿalayhi yawm al-qiyāmah.”
“Whoever knows of his brother’s sin and conceals it, Allāh will conceal his sin on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ li-ghayrih: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2336; al-Ṭabarānī in al-Kabīr]
Conclusion
- Covering sins and forgiving others is highly virtuous.
- Whoever does so for a believer in this world, Allāh promises to conceal his sins on the Day of Judgment.
- Exposing should only be done if the crime endangers society or justice requires legal action.
