Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا تَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُوِّ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُ فَاصْبِرُوا.
English Translation
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Ward off the prescribed punishments (hudud) as much as you can. If there is a way out for the accused, let him go, for it is better for the judge to err in pardoning than to err in punishing.'