“Avert the punishments from the Muslims as much as you can, so if the accused has any way out let him go free, because it is better for the Imam to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in imposing the punishment.”

Aiesha narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Avert the punishments from the Muslims as much as you can, so if the accused has any way out let him go free, because it is better for the Imam to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in imposing the punishment.”

Tirmidhi