Sahih al-Bukhari #2329
Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ،. وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ، سَمِعْتُ سُوَيْدَ بْنَ غَفَلَةَ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ أَخَذْتُ صُرَّةً مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً". فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلَهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً " فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَ " احْفَظْ وِعَاءَهَا وَعَدَدَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا، وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا ". فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ فَلَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي ثَلاَثَةَ أَحْوَالٍ أَوْ حَوْلاً وَاحِدًا.
I found a purse containing one hundred Diners. So I went to the Prophet (and informed him about it),
he said, "Make public announcement about it for one year" I did so, but nobody turned up to claim it,
so I again went to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said, "Make public announcement for another year." I did, but
none turned up to claim it. I went to him for the third time and he said, "Keep the container and the
string which is used for its tying and count the money it contains and if its owner comes, give it to
him; otherwise, utilize it."
The sub-narrator Salama said, "I met him (Suwaid, another sub-narrator) in Mecca and he said, 'I don't
know whether Ubai made the announcement for three years or just one year.' "
Narrated by Narrated Ubai bin Ka`b:
Context
This hadith narrates an incident where Ubai bin Ka'b finds a purse containing money and seeks the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) on how to handle it. The Prophet advises him to announce it publicly for a year to find the owner. This reflects the importance of ethical conduct and responsibility in dealing with found property.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle encourages individuals to act with integrity when they find lost items. Making efforts to return lost property to its rightful owner fosters trust and community spirit, reinforcing the ethical standards promoted in this hadith.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction and Property Rights because it highlights the importance of ethical behavior in handling lost property and the rights of individuals regarding their belongings.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ
Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
فَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ جَعَلَ ٱلسِّقَايَةَ فِى رَحْلِ أَخِيهِ ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنٌ أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَٰرِقُونَ
So when he had furnished them with their supplies, he put the [gold measuring] bowl into the bag of his brother. Then an announcer called out, "O caravan, indeed you are thieves."
قَالُوا۟ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ مَن وُجِدَ فِى رَحْلِهِۦ فَهُوَ جَزَٰٓؤُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
[The brothers] said, "Its recompense is that he in whose bag it is found - he [himself] will be its recompense. Thus do we recompense the wrongdoers."
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
أَوْ كَٱلَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍۢ وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْىِۦ هَٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍۢ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ ۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍۢ فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ ءَايَةًۭ لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًۭا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
Or [consider such an example] as the one who passed by a township which had fallen into ruin. He said, "How will Allah bring this to life after its death?" So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years; then He revived him. He said, "How long have you remained?" The man said, "I have remained a day or part of a day." He said, "Rather, you have remained one hundred years. Look at your food and your drink; it has not changed with time. And look at your donkey; and We will make you a sign for the people. And look at the bones [of this donkey] - how We raise them and then We cover them with flesh." And when it became clear to him, he said, "I know that Allah is over all things competent."
سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ
Al-Kahf (The Cave)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍۢ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًۭا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍۢ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا
And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you.
Common Words
157 total118 unique25 repeated
قال6x
ٱلله4x
إلى4x
لم3x
ثم3x
قالوا3x
أو3x
على3x
لبثت3x
فمن2x
من2x
أن2x
فلما2x
فى2x
جزؤه2x
هذه2x
مائة2x
عام2x
كم2x
يوما2x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #2329 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Ubai bin Ka`b:.