Sulaiman al-A'mash الأعمش / سليمان بن مهران · The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud)

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Avert the legal penalties from the Muslims as much as possible, if he has a way out then leave him to his way, for if the Imam makes a mistake in forgiving it would be better than making mistake in punishment."