This short chapter teaches a delicate virtue: sitr, the covering or concealing of others' faults. To shield a believer's hidden sin, rather than expose it, is met by Allah covering one's own faults on the Day of Resurrection. The principle protects people's dignity and discourages the spread of scandal.
Notice the balance the hadith strike. Concealment is praised, yet boasting openly about one's own sin is condemned, because publicising wrongdoing tears away the veil Allah Himself had drawn. And even where a person must face a worldly consequence, the chapter warns against piling on contempt; correction is one thing, helping the devil against a sinner is another.
Hadith 240
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "لا يستر عبد عبدًا في الدنيا إلا ستره الله يوم القيامة" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will cover up on the Day of Resurrection the defects (faults) of the one who covers up the faults of the others in this world". [Muslim].
In plain words
Whoever shields another person's faults in this life will have his own faults shielded by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. Protecting people's dignity is met with the same mercy from Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 240 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 240
Hadith 241
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "كل أمتي معافًى إلا المجاهرين، وإن من المجاهرة أن يعمل الرجل بالليل عملاً، ثم يصبح وقد ستره الله عليه فيقول: يا فلان عملت البارحة كذا وكذا، وقد بات يستره ربه، ويصبح يكشف ستر الله عنه" ((متفق عليه)) .
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): "I committed such and such sin last night,' while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Allah may forgive faults He had kept hidden, but the Prophet warns against those who broadcast their own sins, tearing away the cover Allah had drawn over them. Do not publicise the wrongs Allah concealed.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 241 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 241
Hadith 242
Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported:
وعنه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "إذا زنت الأمة فتبين زناها فليجلدها الحد، ولا يثرب عليها، ثم إن زنت الثانية فليجلدها الحد ولا يثرب عليها، ثم إن زنت الثالثة فليبعها ولو بحبل من شعر" ((متفق عليه)) . (15)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When a slave-girl commits fornication and this fact of fornication has become evident, she must be given the penalty of (fifty) lashes without hurling reproaches at her; if she does it again, she must be given the penalty but she should not be rebuked. If she does it for the third time, he should sell her, even for a rope woven from hair (i.e., something worthless)". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Even where a worldly consequence must be carried out for a proven wrong, it is done without heaping reproach on the person. Correction is not an excuse for cruelty.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 242 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 242
Hadith 243
Abu Hurairah (May Allah bepleased with him) reported:
وعنه قال: أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم برجل قد شرب خمرًا قال: "اضربوه" قال أبو هريرة : فمنا الضارب بيده، والضارب بنعله، والضارب بثوبه. فلما انصرف قال بعض القوم: أخزاك الله قال: "لا تقولوا هكذا لا تعينوا عليه الشيطان" ((رواه البخاري)).
A man who had drunk wine was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he asked us to beat him; some struck him with their hands, some with their garments (making a whip) and some with their sandals. When he (the drunkard) had gone, some of the people said: "May Allah disgrace you!" He (the Prophet (ﷺ)) said, "Do not say so. Do not help the devil against him". [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
After a man was punished for drinking, some onlookers cursed him, and the Prophet told them not to, saying it only helps the devil against him. Even toward someone who has sinned, contempt is discouraged.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 243 In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 243