1090 – ʿĀ’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Overlook the slips of those who are of dignified bearing, except when a ḥadd punishment is involved.” Reported by Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasā’ī, and al-Bayhaqī. (1)

Hadith grading:
• The report is weak.
• Although it comes through many chains, none of them is free from criticism.
• In al-Talkhīṣ it is stated: Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasā’ī, and al-ʿUqaylī all transmitted it from ʿĀ’ishah.
• Al-ʿUqaylī said: It has several routes, yet none is sound. Ibn Ṭāhir cited it with his chain to Anas and remarked, “With this isnād it is baseless.” It was also related by al-Shāfiʿī and Ibn Ḥibbān.
• Al-Shāfiʿī said: I heard scholars who know this ḥadith say, “A man of dignified standing is excused for his lapse so long as it does not call for a ḥadd.”
• ʿAbd al-Ḥaqq said: Ibn ʿAdiyy mentioned it in the entry on Wāṣil al-Raqāshī without noting any defect.
• I (the author) say: Wāṣil is weak.

Lexical notes:
• aqīlū (overlook): One says aqaltu ʿathratah – “I pardoned his misstep”; here it means to forbear and not hold him to account.
• dhawī al-hayʾāt: plural of hayʾah, which refers to a person’s appearance, form, and condition,