Question

Is this Hadith authentic?

أقيلوا ذوي الهيئات عثراتهم

 

Answer

This narration is recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud and other Hadith collections on the authority of Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha).

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4375, Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 465)

Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared one version authentic. The Hadith has been reported with more than one chain and is well corroborated.

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 94. Also see: Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 143, Al Mudawi, Hadith: 691)

Translation and commentary

Sayyidah ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) reported that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Overlook the faults of people of good mannerisms.”

The complete Hadith is as follows:

أقيلوا ذوي الهيئات عثراتهم إلا الحدود

Overlook the faults of people of good mannerisms except the legal punishments.

Sometimes people with exceptional character and good mannerisms carry out a minor crime or injure someone and are not repeat offenders. This Hadith encourages those appointed to mete out punishments and prescribed penalties to overlook their faults and not mete out any punishment (ta’zir) or penalty.

(Refer: Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 4375, Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 1363 and Ml Ilyas Barahbankwi’s marginalia on Al Adabul Mufrad, Hadith: 465)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar