Fath al-Rabbani

Suwaydin bin Ghaflah says: I participated in a battle with Zayd bin Suhan and Salman bin Rabee’ah. On the way, I found a whip and picked it up, but they told me: Throw away this whip. I said: I will not throw it away, rather I will announce it, and if I find its owner who recognizes it, I will give it to him, otherwise I will use it myself. Both of them refused to accept this, and I also did not agree with them. When we returned from the battle and I went for Hajj, I went to Madinah Munawwarah and met Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) and told him about both of them and myself. He said in response: This is a matter from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). I once found a pouch containing one hundred dinars. When I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and mentioned it to him, he said: Announce it for one year. I did so, but no one was found who recognized the pouch, so I informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) that no one was found. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Announce it for another year. This happened three times. The narrator says: I do not know whether the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to announce it for one year or for three years. Then, the fourth time, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me: Remember the number of dinars and the strap of the pouch, and if after that you find someone who recognizes it, give it to him, otherwise benefit from it yourself. These are the words of Yahya bin Sa’eed’s narration. Muhammad bin Ja’far, in his narration, said that Sayyiduna Shu’bah says: After that, I met Salamah bin Kuhayl in Makkah and asked him, and he said: I do not know whether three years are meant or announcing three times in one year is meant.