Allah (swt) says:
وَ اِذَا
الۡمَوۡءٗدَۃُ سُئِلَتۡ ۪ۙ بِاَیِّ ذَنۡۢبٍ قُتِلَتۡ
ۚ
Wa
‘izal - maw - ‘uudatu su’ilat; Bi - ‘ayyi zambin - qutilat?
“Indeed, those who like that
immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will
have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah knows and
you do not know.” (An-Noor, 24: 20)
In a Hadith Hazrat Muhammad
(pbuh) has said:
“He who sees something which should be
kept hidden and conceals it will be like one who has brought to life a girl
buried alive.” (Abu Dawud, Kanz al-’Ummal,
Tabarani)
This Sahih Hadith teaches us
that he who finds a defect/ weakness, whether physical or moral in a Muslim and
who conceals it, that is to say, he does not spread it among the people, but rather
keeps the matter a secret, then he shall have a reward comparable to the one
who saves a girl buried alive from her grave, for this practice was widespread
among the Arabs at the time of the Jahiliyya
(ignorance, before the advent of Islam), as well as among the pagans and the
ignorant ones before the advent of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). We need to advise
people to improve their conduct (to atone for their wrongdoings) but it is
illegal for us to reveal their flaws to those who are not concerned (with that
matter).