Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhani said :A man asked the Messenger of Allah (SWAS) about a find. He said: Make the matter known for a year, then note its string and its container and then use it for your purpose. Then if its owner comes, give it to him. He asked : Messenger of Allah, what about a stray sheep? He replied: Take it; that is for you, or for your brother, or for the wolf. He again asked: Messenger of Allah, What about stray camels? The Messenger of Allah (SWAS) became angry so much so that his cheeks became red or ( the narrator is doubtful) his face became red. He replied: What have you to do with them? They have with them their feet and their stomachs (for drink) till their master comes to him.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرَ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا وَعِفَاصَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَنْفِقْ بِهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَبُّهَا فَأَدِّهَا إِلَيْهِ " . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ فَقَالَ " خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ " . قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى احْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ - أَوِ احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ - وَقَالَ " مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا حِذَاؤُهَا وَسِقَاؤُهَا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهَا رَبُّهَا " .
AbuDaud
The Book of Lost and Found Items • Hadith 1704