Why did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, not search for those who committed fornication, those who drank alcohol, and others who committed sins between a person and their Lord when he ruled by the Sharia, and is it incumbent upon the ruler, when establishing a state, to search for these disobedient individuals?
Whoever commits a sin that necessitates a ḥadd (prescribed punishment) must conceal it by Allah's concealment and repent to Him. The ruler must conceal the sinners and not spy on them, unless the sin becomes apparent through witnesses or confession. If the matter reaches the ruler, the ḥadd must be implemented. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade seeking out the faults of Muslims, as that leads to their corruption. It is permissible to prompt the sinner to retract their confession and to intercede for them before their matter reaches the Imam. However, once it reaches the Imam, intercession is not permissible.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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