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كتاب فى اللقطة
45  
Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah)
(11)
Chapter: Whoever announced the Luqata in public
(11)
باب مَنْ عَرَّفَ اللُّقَطَةَ، وَلَمْ يَدْفَعْهَا إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ
Sahih al-Bukhari 2438

Narrated Zaid bin Khalid:

A bedouin asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the Luqata. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make public announcement about it for one year and if then somebody comes and describes the container of the Luqata and the string it was tied with, (give it to him); otherwise, spend it." He then asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about a lost camel. The face of the Prophet (ﷺ) become red and he said, "You have o concern with it as it has its water reservoir and feet and it will reach water and drink and eat trees. Leave it till its owner finds it." He then asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about a lost sheep. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ قَالَ ‏"‏ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُكَ بِعِفَاصِهَا وَوِكَائِهَا، وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَنْفِقْ بِهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ ضَالَّةِ الإِبِلِ فَتَمَعَّرَ وَجْهُهُ، قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا سِقَاؤُهَا وَحِذَاؤُهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ، دَعْهَا حَتَّى يَجِدَهَا رَبُّهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ ضَالَّةِ الْغَنَمِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ، أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ‏"‏‏.‏
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2438
In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 14
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 42, Hadith 618
  (deprecated numbering scheme)