Sahih al-Bukhari 2436
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 45: Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah) · If the owner of lost property comes back after a year
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ قَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، ثُمَّ اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا وَعِفَاصَهَا، ثُمَّ اسْتَنْفِقْ بِهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَبُّهَا فَأَدِّهَا إِلَيْهِ ". قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ " خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ". قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى احْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ ـ أَوِ احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا، مَعَهَا حِذَاؤُهَا وَسِقَاؤُهَا، حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا " .
A man asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the Luqata. He said, "Make public announcement of it for one year, then remember the description of its container and the string it is tied with, utilize the money, and if its owner comes back after that, give it to him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about a lost sheep?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Take it, for it is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf." The man asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about a lost camel?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got angry and his cheeks or face became red, and said, "You have no concern with it as it has its feet, and its watercontainer, till its owner finds it."