Is it better for one who has repented from unlawful sexual intercourse to conceal himself, or to go to the ruler to have the hadd (fixed punishment) carried out on him?

Question : He says: I am a young man who is not married, and I committed the heinous act of unlawful sexual intercourse several times. I am repentant to Allah and I want to purify myself. Should I go to the court to have the hadd of unlawful sexual intercourse carried out on me?

Answer : The preferred course for you, or for any person who committed the heinous act and Allah accepted his repentance, is not to go to the court and not to inform them, but rather to conceal himself with the concealment of Allah. This man has confirmed his repentance by turning back to Allah the Exalted and by asking this great question. So we say to this man: Do not disclose anything about yourself, repent to Allah between you and Him, and conceal yourself with the concealment of Allah. However, if you wish to take revenge on yourself for yourself and go to the one in authority and confess to him so that he may carry out the hadd on you, there is no harm in that. Yes.