Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the picking up of a "Luqata" (fallen lost thing). The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Recognize and remember its tying material and its container, and make public announcement (about it) for one year, then utilize it but give it to its owner if he comes." Then the person asked about the lost camel. On that, the Prophet (ﷺ) got angry and his cheeks or his Face became red and he said, "You have no concern with it as it has its water container, and its feet and it will reach water, and eat (the leaves) of trees till its owner finds it." The man then asked about the lost sheep. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "It is either for you, for your brother (another person) or for the wolf."
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ الْمَدِينِيُّ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ " اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا ـ أَوْ قَالَ وِعَاءَهَا ـ وَعِفَاصَهَا، ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، ثُمَّ اسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَبُّهَا فَأَدِّهَا إِلَيْهِ ". قَالَ فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ فَغَضِبَ حَتَّى احْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ ـ أَوْ قَالَ احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ ـ فَقَالَ " وَمَا لَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا سِقَاؤُهَا وَحِذَاؤُهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ، وَتَرْعَى الشَّجَرَ، فَذَرْهَا حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا ". قَالَ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ " لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ".
Bukhari
Knowledge • Hadith 33