Concealing people’s sins is a matter that is subject to further discussion
Question

                I work in an emergency department. A girl came to us who had been in a traffic accident with a young man. The young man told us that he was not related to her, and that they had gone out together and he had been alone with her, contrary to the shar‘i rulings. in an unlawful manner. At this point I had a disagreement with my colleagues.

Should we tell the Hay’ah [also known as “mutawwa‘” or “religious police”], or is it better to conceal their sin? Are we sinning if we do not report it, on the grounds of keeping quiet about evil, or should we follow the example of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), when someone who had committed adultery came to him and he turned away from him?
Praise be to Allah.
	If it is proven that the woman actually committed a sin with 
	this man, then if she was not known for doing that, and it was an isolated 
	incident and an error on her part, then it is better to conceal her sin and 
	not report the matter to the authorities, whilst advising her, reminding 
	her, calling her to Allah, and explaining to her the seriousness of what she 
	did and what may result from it of negative consequences. If she repents, 
	regrets it, asks Allah for forgiveness and promises not to do such a thing 
	again, then it is recommended to conceal her mistake.

	It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with 
	him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) 
	said: “Whoever removes a worldly hardship from a believer, Allah will remove 
	one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection from him. Whoever grants 
	respite to (a debtor) who is in difficulty, Allah will grant him relief in 
	this world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim in 
	this world, Allah will conceal him (his faults) in this world and in the 
	Hereafter. Allah will help a person so long as he is helping his brother.”

	Narrated by Muslim (2699).

	But if this woman is known for committing evil and immoral 
	deeds, and persists in that, and does not give any sign of repenting or 
	regretting it, then undoubtedly it is better to report her to the 
	authorities. In fact that may be obligatory, in order to discipline her and 
	put a stop to what she is doing, so that she will not think of doing such a 
	thing ever again.

	Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said, after quoting a 
	number of hadiths that speak of concealing a person’s sins and not exposing 
	him to scandal:

	However it should be noted that people are of two types:

	One type 
	is the person whose situation is concealed and he is not known to be 
	committing any sin. In that case, if he slips up or falls into error, it is 
	not permissible to expose him or disclose his error, or to speak about it, 
	because that is unlawful backbiting. This is the one concerning whom these 
	texts were narrated, and concerning that Allah, may He be exalted, says 
	(interpretation of the meaning):

	“Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual 
	intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a 
	painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter”

	[an-Noor 24:19].

	What is meant is spreading news of shameful deeds on the part 
	of a believer who had been concealing his error, or who had been accused of 
	that when in fact she was innocent of it, as in the story of al-ifk (the 
	slander against ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)).

	One of the righteous ministers said to one of those who were 
	striving to enjoin what is right and proper: strive hard to conceal the 
	faults of sinners, for broadcasting their sins brings shame to the Muslims, 
	and the matters which are most deserving of being concealed are faults. If 
	someone like this comes expressing repentance and regret, and admitting to a 
	sin that is deserving of a hadd punishment, but he does not explain what it 
	is, he should not be asked to explain what it is; rather he should be 
	instructed to go back and conceal his sin, as the Prophet (blessings and 
	peace of Allah be upon him) instructed Maa‘iz and al-Ghaamidiyyah [two 
	believers who each eventually admitted having committed zina] to do; and as 
	the one who came and said, “I have committed a sin that is deserving of a 
	hadd punishment, so carry it out on me” was not asked for details. If such a 
	person is caught for committing an offence, but it has not been reported to 
	the authorities, intercession should be made for him so that news of it will 
	not reach the authorities. 

	Concerning a similar case it says in a hadith narrated from 
	the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “Overlook mistakes 
	committed by people of good character”. This was narrated by Abu Dawood and 
	an-Nasaa’i from the hadith of ‘Aa’ishah.

	The second type 
	is the person is known for committing sins and commits them openly, and does 
	not care what kind of sins he commits or what is said about him. This is the 
	evildoer who broadcasts his sins, and speaking ill of him is not regarded as 
	backbiting, as was stated by al-Hasan al-Basri and others. In this case 
	there is nothing wrong with investigating what he does, so that the hadd 
	punishments may be carried out on him. This was stated clearly by one of our 
	companions, and he quoted as evidence the words of the Prophet (blessings 
	and peace of Allah be upon him: “Tomorrow go to this woman, O Unays, and if 
	she confesses, then stone her.” In such a case, there is no intercession for 
	the individual if he is captured, even if the matter is not referred to the 
	authorities. Rather he should be kept until the hadd punishment is carried 
	out on him, so as to put a stop to his evil and deter others like him.

	Maalik said: If a person is not known to bother people, and 
	it was rather a mistake on his part, then there is nothing wrong with 
	intercession being made for him so long as the matter has not reached the 
	authorities. As for the one who is well-known for his evil and mischief, I 
	do not like for anyone to intercede for him; rather he should be kept until 
	the hadd punishment is carried out on him. This was narrated by Ibn al-Mundhir 
	and others…

	End quote from Jaami‘ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hikam (1/341).

	Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 
	What is meant by concealment is concealing the fault, but concealment cannot 
	be praiseworthy unless it serves an interest and does not lead to any 
	negative consequences. For example, if an offender commits an offence, we 
	would not conceal his deed if he is known for committing evil and mischief, 
	but if a man is outwardly righteous, then he does something that is not 
	permissible, in that case it is required to conceal his deed. So with regard 
	to concealment, we should see if it serves an interest. So if a person is 
	known for his evil and mischief, it is not appropriate to conceal his deeds, 
	whereas if a man is outwardly righteous, but he does something wrong, this 
	is the one whose deed it is Sunnah to conceal.

	End quote from Sharh al-Arba‘een an-Nawawiyyah (1/172)

	And Allah knows best.