and the hadith of the man who said, “I have committed an offense carrying a prescribed punishment, so enforce it upon me” (1), along with other reports (2).
In the Sunan of Abū Dāwūd and al-Nasāʾī, ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Pardon offenses carrying prescribed punishments among yourselves, for once such a case reaches me, its enforcement becomes obligatory” (3).
In the Sunan collections of al-Nasāʾī and Ibn Mājah, Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A prescribed punishment carried out on earth is better for its people than their receiving rain for forty mornings” (4).
This is because sins cause provision to diminish and people to fear the enemy, as indicated by the Book and the Sunnah. When the prescribed punishments are enforced, obedience to Allah becomes manifest and disobedience to Him diminishes, thereby bringing provision and victory.