Sahih al-Bukhari 2427
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 45: Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah) · Lost camels
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَهُ عَمَّا يَلْتَقِطُهُ فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، ثُمَّ احْفَظْ عِفَاصَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُكَ بِهَا، وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَنْفِقْهَا ". قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ " لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ". قَالَ ضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ فَتَمَعَّرَ وَجْهُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. فَقَالَ " مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا، مَعَهَا حِذَاؤُهَا وَسِقَاؤُهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ " .
A bedouin went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him about picking up a lost thing. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make public announcement about it for one year. Remember the description of its container and the string with which it is tied; and if somebody comes and claims it and describes it correctly, (give it to him); otherwise, utilize it." He said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about a lost sheep?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is for you, for your brother (i.e. its owner), or for the wolf." He further asked, "What about a lost camel?" On that the face of the Prophet (ﷺ) became red (with anger) and said, "You have nothing to do with it, as it has its feet, its water reserve and can reach places of water and drink, and eat trees."