Abu'l-Haytham said, "Some people came to 'Uqba ibn 'Amir and said, 'We have some neighbours who drink (wine) and behave incorrectly. Shall we bring them before the ruler?' 'No,' he replied, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "Whoever sees the fault of a Muslim and then veils it, it is as if he brought girl buried alive back to life from her grave.''"
Commentary on the Narration
This profound tradition from the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes a fundamental principle of Islamic ethics regarding the treatment of fellow Muslims' faults. The imagery of saving a buried girl refers to the pre-Islamic Arab practice of female infanticide, making the metaphor exceptionally powerful in its cultural context.
The Virtue of Concealing Faults
The prohibition against exposing a Muslim's faults serves multiple divine wisdoms: it preserves individual dignity, maintains social harmony, encourages private reformation, and prevents the normalization of sin within the community. The ruling applies particularly to personal sins committed in private.
Scholars clarify that this principle does not extend to public crimes that harm society or require judicial intervention. The distinction lies between private moral failings and public transgressions against others' rights.
Practical Application
The proper approach when discovering a Muslim's fault involves: private counsel (nasīḥah) with wisdom and gentle admonition, making sincere supplication for their guidance, and maintaining their honor before others. This balanced approach fulfills both the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil while preserving human dignity.
Spiritual Significance
The tremendous reward mentioned - equivalent to saving a life - indicates the gravity of preserving human honor in Islam. Just as saving a physical life is among the greatest deeds, preserving spiritual and social dignity holds similar merit in the divine scale.