Sahih al-Bukhari 2426
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 45: Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah) · Owner's proof
Narrated Ubai bin Ka`b:
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ،. وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ ، سَمِعْتُ سُوَيْدَ بْنَ غَفَلَةَ ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ أَخَذْتُ صُرَّةً مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً". فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلَهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً " فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَ " احْفَظْ وِعَاءَهَا وَعَدَدَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا، وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا " . فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ فَلَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي ثَلاَثَةَ أَحْوَالٍ أَوْ حَوْلاً وَاحِدًا .
I found a purse containing one hundred Diners. So I went to the Prophet (and informed him about it), he said, "Make public announcement about it for one year" I did so, but nobody turned up to claim it, so I again went to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said, "Make public announcement for another year." I did, but none turned up to claim it. I went to him for the third time and he said, "Keep the container and the string which is used for its tying and count the money it contains and if its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it." The sub-narrator Salama said, "I met him (Suwaid, another sub-narrator) in Mecca and he said, 'I don't know whether Ubai made the announcement for three years or just one year.' "