Hadith 1424
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الأَسْوَدِ أَبُو عَمْرٍو الْبَصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ادْرَءُوا الْحُدُودَ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَخْرَجٌ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُ فَإِنَّ الإِمَامَ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ فِي الْعَفْوِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ فِي الْعُقُوبَةِ " .
Narrated 'Aishah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Avert the legal penalties from the Muslims as much as possible, if he has a way out then leave him to his way, for if the Imam makes a mistake in forgiving it would be better than making mistake in punishment."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1424
In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 2