Ibn Hibban

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He asked you (peace be upon him) about something that is found lying somewhere. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Keep the identification of its pouch and the thing tied at the mouth of that pouch, then announce it for a year. If its owner comes, then fine. Otherwise, you may use it. That man asked, "What is the ruling about a lost goat?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: It will either be found by you, or by one of your brothers, or a wolf will take it. That man asked, "What is the ruling about a lost camel?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: What do you have to do with it? Its belly is with it, its legs are with it. It will reach water by itself and eat and drink from the trees, until its owner finds it. (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The ruling of benefiting from a found lost item after announcing it for a year is in the case when a person believes in his heart that if the owner comes, he will return that item to its owner, and that person has kept the identification of its pouch and the thing tied at the mouth of the pouch.