Hadith Reference:
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ...
Narrated by Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about lost gold or silver. He said:
"Recognize its tying strap and its container, then announce it for a year. If no one comes to claim it, then use it, but keep it as a trust with you. If its owner ever comes and identifies it, then give it to him."
He was then asked about a lost camel, and the Prophet ﷺ replied:
"What do you have to do with it? Leave it alone, for it has its footwear and water container with it; it finds water and eats trees until its owner finds it."
Then he was asked about a lost sheep, and he replied:
"Take it, for it is either for you, or for your brother, or the wolf."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 91; Sahih Muslim: 1722]
❖ If someone finds gold or silver, they must:
➊ Memorize and note down its identifying features (container and strap),
➋ Announce it for a full year,
➌ If unclaimed, they may use it, but it remains a trust with them,
➍ And if the owner eventually comes and identifies it, it must be returned to them.
❖ Regarding lost camels, the Prophet ﷺ instructed not to interfere as they are self-sufficient and capable of surviving in the wild until reclaimed by their owner.
❖ In contrast, lost sheep are vulnerable and can be taken in, because:
This content is adapted from the Urdu commentary on ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām min Kalām Khayr al-Anām, translated by Hafiz Faizullah Nasir.
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ...
Narrated by Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about lost gold or silver. He said:
"Recognize its tying strap and its container, then announce it for a year. If no one comes to claim it, then use it, but keep it as a trust with you. If its owner ever comes and identifies it, then give it to him."
He was then asked about a lost camel, and the Prophet ﷺ replied:
"What do you have to do with it? Leave it alone, for it has its footwear and water container with it; it finds water and eats trees until its owner finds it."
Then he was asked about a lost sheep, and he replied:
"Take it, for it is either for you, or for your brother, or the wolf."
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 91; Sahih Muslim: 1722]
✿ Explanation of Terminology:
- اللقطة (al-Luqatah): An item that has been lost by its owner and picked up by someone else.
- وكاءها (Wikāʼuhā): The string or strap used to tie the item.
- عفاصها (ʿIfāṣuhā): The wrapper or cloth in which the item is enclosed.
- سقاؤها (Siqāʼuhā): Refers to the belly of the camel that stores food and water.
✿ Explanation of the Hadith:
This Hadith elaborates the rulings regarding lost and found property, specifically gold, silver, camels, and sheep.❖ If someone finds gold or silver, they must:
➊ Memorize and note down its identifying features (container and strap),
➋ Announce it for a full year,
➌ If unclaimed, they may use it, but it remains a trust with them,
➍ And if the owner eventually comes and identifies it, it must be returned to them.
❖ Regarding lost camels, the Prophet ﷺ instructed not to interfere as they are self-sufficient and capable of surviving in the wild until reclaimed by their owner.
❖ In contrast, lost sheep are vulnerable and can be taken in, because:
- They might fall to the finder,
- Be taken by someone else, or
- Be eaten by a wolf.
✿ Scholarly Views:
Scholars differ on whether returning the item becomes obligatory once the owner appears:- Imam al-Shafi‘i (رحمه الله) states: If the claimant describes the item accurately and the finder believes he is truthful, he must return it.
- The Hanafis allow returning the item with a guarantor if desired.
- Imam Ahmad and Imam Malik (رحمهما الله) hold that once the claimant identifies the item completely, it must be returned, whether or not the finder is convinced of their truthfulness.
[Sharḥ ʿUmdat al-Aḥkām by Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd: 3/241–242]
✿ About the Narrator:
Zayd ibn Khalid (RA) was known as Abu ‘Abd al-Raḥmān, a renowned Companion from the tribe of Juhaynah and a resident of Madinah. He narrated 81 Hadiths and passed away in 78 AH. This content is adapted from the Urdu commentary on ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām min Kalām Khayr al-Anām, translated by Hafiz Faizullah Nasir.