Al-Muntaqa Ibn al-Jarud

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when a man came and asked about a lost item (luqatah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Remember its container and its tying, then announce it for one year. If its owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise fulfill your need with it.” He asked: “If a lost sheep is found on the road, what is its ruling?” He said: “It will be yours, or your brother’s, or the wolf will eat it.” He asked: “If a lost camel is found, (what is its ruling)?” He said: “It has its shoes and its water-skin with it, it will reach water by itself and eat the leaves of the trees by itself, thus its owner will find it one day.”

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a Bedouin asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about a lost item (luqatah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Announce it for one year. If someone comes and informs you about its container and its binding, (then return his property to him), otherwise benefit from it.” The Bedouin asked him about a camel that had lost its way. The color of the Prophet’s face changed, and he said: “What concern do you have with it? It has its shoes and its water bag with it; it will reach water on its own and eat the leaves of trees on its own. Leave it, so its owner may find it.” They asked about a lost sheep (if it is found, what should be done?). He said: “It will be yours, or your brother’s, or the wolf will take it away.” This is the narration reported by Firyabi.

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.’”

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a lost item (luqatah). He (peace be upon him) said: “Announce it for one year. If no one comes to claim it, then remember its pouch and strap (i.e., its identifying marks) and consume it. If its owner comes (at any time), then give it to him.”

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrates that a man from the Muzaynah tribe came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “What do you say about something found on a public road or in a populated settlement?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Announce it for one year. If its seeker comes, hand it over to him; otherwise, use it for your need. If at any time its owner comes to claim it, give it to him. And whatever is found on a deserted path or in an uninhabited settlement, then one-fifth must be paid from it and from buried treasure.”

Sayyiduna Iyad bin Himar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever finds a lost item, let him make one or two just men witnesses over it, and he should not hide it nor conceal it. If its owner comes, then he has more right to it; otherwise, it is Allah’s property, and Allah gives it to whomever He wills.”