Avoid this filth, which Allah has prohibited. The one who commits it, let him conceal himself with Allah's concealment and repent to Allah, for, indeed, anyone who exposes his sin to us, we shall enforce the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, on him

Explanation

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) informed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up after the stoning of Mā‘iz ibn Mālik al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) as a punishment for adultery and addressed the people saying: Avoid this filth and what is detestable and repugnant of sins that Allah has prohibited. Whoever falls into and commits any of them must do two things: First: Conceal himself as Allah has concealed him and not disclose his sin. Second: Hasten to repent to Allah and not persist in it. As for one whose sin becomes apparent to us, we will enforce the prescribed punishment mentioned in the Book of Allah Almighty for that sin.

Lessons

• Encouraging the sinful person to conceal himself and repent of the sin privately between himself and his Lord.
• Once the ruler is informed of the violation of Hudūd (legal prescribed punishments), it becomes necessary to enforce legally prescribed punishment.
• It is obligatory to avoid sins and repent thereof.