Sayyiduna Suwaid bin Ghaflah narrates that I found a whip and picked it up. Zaid bin Suhan and Salman bin Rabee’ah objected to me. I said: “If I find its owner, I will hand it over to him, otherwise I will benefit from it.” Suwaid says: I mentioned this to Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him), so he said: “You did right, you did right. I once found a pouch, so I brought it to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Announce it for one year.’ I announced it for a year, but no one came who could recognize it. I then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) again. He said: ‘Announce it for another year.’ I announced it for a year, but no one came who could recognize it. I then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) again. He said: ‘Announce it for yet another year.’ I announced it for a year, but no one came who could recognize it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Remember its amount, its pouch, and its tie. If its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, spend it on your needs.’”
Hadith Referenceالمنتقى ابن الجارود / كتاب البيوع والتجارات / 668