Chapter 19-Luqatah (Lost and found items)

967. Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah passed by a fallen date in the street and said, "Were it not for my doubt that this might have been given in charity, I would have eaten it." (292) Agreed upon.

292. It is well known. that the Messenger of Allah does not eat out of charity but would only eat what is given to him as a present.





968. Zaid bin Khalid aI-Juhani narrated, 'A man came to the Prophet and asked him about al-Luqatah. (lost items found on the ground and picked up by someone).The Prophet said, "determine its container, and the string with which it is tied, and then announce publicly for a year that it has been found .. If the owner shows up, give it to him, otherwise use it as you like (as it has entered his possession).The man again asked, 'What about a lost sheep?' The Messenger of Allah said, "It is for you, your brother or a wolf." The man again said, 'What about a lost camel?"The Messenger of Allah said, "Why should you take it as it has got its water container (its stomach), and its hooves and it can reach the places of water and can eat from the trees until its owner finds it?" Agreed upon.






969. Zaid narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "He who keeps a stray properly (luqatah), he himself has gone astray, unless he announces that he found it." Related by Muslim.






'970. 'Iyad bin Himar narrated that the Messenger of Allah said,"He who finds a luqatah. should call two trusty witnesses (to show them what he found) determine its container, and the string with which it is tied, and he should not conceal it or cover it up. If its owner shows up he is the one who is entitled to take it back, otherwise it is the property of Allah, which He gives to whom He wishes." Related by Ahmad and the four Imams except for At-Tirmidhi. Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn al-Garud and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih.








971. 'Abdul' Rahman bin 'Uthman At-Taimi narrated that the Messenger of Allah prohibited picking up the luqatah. of the pilgrims.' Related by Muslim.







972. Al-Miqdam bin Ma'diakrib narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "It is not lawful to eat predatory wild animals that prey with fangs, or a domestic donkey, and it is not lawful to keep the luqatah of one who has been given a covenant (by Muslims) unless he disposes of it." Related by Abu Dawud.