[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Keep the limits away from the Muslims as much as you can. If you find a way out for the Muslim, then let him go. Indeed, it is better for the leader to make a mistake in forgiveness than to make a mistake in punishment." This was narrated by Wakee' from Yazid bin Ziyad, who reported it from Aisha. Abu Abdullah Al-Hafiz informed us that Abu Al-Walid Al-Faqih narrated to him from Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Zuheir, who reported it from Abdullah bin Hashim, who reported it from Wakee', who mentioned it from Yazid, and he narrated it in a way that was attributed to Yazid bin Ziyad Al-Shami, from Al-Zuhri. This narration has a weakness. The narration of Wakee' is closer to correctness, and Allah knows best. Rashdeen bin Saad narrated it from Aqeel, from Al-Zuhri, in a marfu' (elevated) form. Rashdeen is weak.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ ادْرءُوا الْحُدُودَ عَنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ فَإِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ لِلْمُسْلِمِ مَخْرَجًا فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُ فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ أَنْ يُخْطِئَ فِي الْعَفْوِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يُخْطِيءَ فِي الْعُقُوبَةِ 17058 وَرَوَاهُ وَكِيعٌ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ مَوْقُوفًا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَنَاهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ الْحَافِظُ أنبأ أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الْفَقِيهُ ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ زُهَيْرٍ ثنا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ ثنا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ يَزِيدَ فَذَكَرَهُ مَوْقُوفًا تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ يَزِيدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ الشَّامِيُّ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ وَفِيهِ ضَعْفٌ وَرِوَايَةُ وَكِيعٍ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الصَّوَابِ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ وَرَوَاهُ رِشْدِينُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَقِيلٍ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ مَرْفُوعًا وَرِشْدِينُ ضَعِيفٌ