Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani: A man asked Allah’s Apostle about “Al-Luqata” (a lost fallen purse or a thing picked up by somebody). The Prophet said, “You should announce it publicly for one year, and then remember and recognize the tying material of its container, and then you can spend it. If its owner came to you, then you should pay him its equivalent.” The man said, “O Allah’s Apostle! What about a lost sheep?” The Prophet said, “Take it because it is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf.” The man again said, “O Allah’s Apostle! What about a lost camel?” Allah’s Apostle became very angry and furious and his cheeks became red (or his face became red), and he said, “You have nothing to do with it (the camel) for it has its food and its water container with it till it meets its owner.”
Hadith In Arabic Text :
حدثنا محمد، حدثنا إسماعيل بن جعفر، أخبرنا ربيعة بن أبي عبد الرحمن، عن يزيد، مولى المنبعث عن زيد بن خالد الجهني، أن رجلا، سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن اللقطة فقال ” عرفها سنة، ثم اعرف وكاءها وعفاصها، ثم استنفق بها، فإن جاء ربها فأدها إليه ”. قال يا رسول الله فضالة الغنم قال ” خذها، فإنما هي لك، أو لأخيك، أو للذئب ”. قال يا رسول الله فضالة الإبل قال فغضب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حتى احمرت وجنتاه أو احمر وجهه ثم قال ” مالك ولها، معها حذاؤها وسقاؤها، حتى يلقاها ربها ”.
Chapter : Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) – كتاب الأدب