I fought along with Zayd ibn Suhan and Sulayman ibn Rabi'ah. I found a whip. They said to me: Throw it away. I said: No; if I find its owner (I shall give it to him); if not, I shall use it. Then I performed hajj; and when I reached Medina, I asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b. He said: I found a purse which contained one hundred dinars; so I came to the Prophet (ﷺ). He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. I made it known for a year and then came to him. He then said to me: Make the matter known for a year. So I made it known for a year. I then (again) came to him. He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. Then I came to him and said: I did not find anyone who realises it. He said: Remember, its number, its container and its tie. If its owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself. He (the narrator Shu'bah) said: I do not know whether he said the word "make the matter known" three times or once.
Remember its number, its container and its string. The version adds : If its owner comes, and tells its number and its string, then give it to him. Abu Dawud said : None of the narrators said this word in this tradition except Hammad ; That is, “ If he tells its number.”
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.
They have their stomachs: They can go down to water and eat trees. He did not say about the stray sheep: take it. About a find he said : Make it known for a year; if it’s owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself. This version has not the word : “ spend it”. Abu Dawud said : This tradition has been narrated by al-Thawri, Sulaiman bin Bilal, and Hammad bin Salamah on the authority of Rabi ‘ ah in a similar manner. They did not mention the word “take it”.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about a find. He said: Make it known for a year. If its seeker comes, deliver it to him, otherwise note its container and its string. Then use it; if its seeker comes, deliver it to him.
The Messenger of Allah (SWAS) was asked about a find. He replied : Make the matter known for a year; if its owner comes, give it to him, otherwise note its string and its container and have it along with your property. If its owner comes, deliver it to him.
This addition made by Hammad bin Salamah bin Kuhail, Yahya bin Sa’id, `Ubaid Allah bin `Umar and Rabi’ah; “if its owner comes and recognizes its container, and its string,” is not guarded. The version narrated by Uqbah bin Suwaid on the authority of his father from the Prophet (SWAS) has also the words : “make it known for a year”. The version of `Umar bin al-Khattab has also been transmitted from the Prophet (SWAS). This version has : “Make it known for a year”.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who finds something should call one or two trusty persons as witnesses and not conceal it or cover it up; then if he finds its owner he should return it to him, otherwise it is Allah's property which He gives to whom He will.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the hanging fruit. He replied: If a needy person takes some and does not take a supply away in his garment, he is not to be blamed, but he who carries any of it away is to be find twice the value and punished, and he who steals any of it after it has been put in the place where dates are dried is to have his hand cut off if its value reaches the price of a shield. Regarding stray camels and sheep he mentioned the same as others have done. He said: He was asked about finds and replied: If it is in a frequented road and a large town, make the matter known for a year, and if its owner comes, give it to him, but if he does not, it belongs to you. If it is in a place which has been a waste from ancient time, or if it is a hidden treasure (belonging to the Islamic period), it is subject to the payment of the fifth.