The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ زَيْدَ بْنَ خَالِدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " اعْرِفْ عِفَاصَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً ". يَقُولُ يَزِيدُ إِنْ لَمْ تُعْتَرَفِ اسْتَنْفَقَ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا وَكَانَتْ وَدِيعَةً، عِنْدَهُ. قَالَ يَحْيَى فَهَذَا الَّذِي لاَ أَدْرِي أَفِي حَدِيثِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ أَمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تَرَى فِي ضَالَّةِ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ". قَالَ يَزِيدُ وَهْىَ تُعَرَّفُ أَيْضًا. ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تَرَى فِي ضَالَّةِ الإِبِلِ قَالَ فَقَالَ " دَعْهَا فَإِنَّ مَعَهَا حِذَاءَهَا وَسِقَاءَهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ، حَتَّى يَجِدَهَا رَبُّهَا ".
Yazid Maula Al-Munba'ith heard Zaid bin Khalid al-Juham saying, "The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about
Luqata. He said, 'Remember the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and announce
it publicly for one year.' " Yazid added, "If nobody claims then the person who has found it can spend
it, and it is regarded as a trust entrusted to him." Yahya said, "I do not know whether the last sentences
were said by the Prophet (ﷺ) or by Yazid." Zaid further said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, 'What about a lost
sheep?' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Take it, for it is for you or for your brother (i.e. its owner) or for the wolf."
Yazid added that it should also be announced publicly. The man then asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about a lost
camel. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Leave it, as it has its feet, water container (reservoir), and it will reach a
place of water and eat trees till its owner finds it."
Narrated by Narrated Sulaiman bin Bilal from Yahya:
Context
This hadith discusses the concept of Luqata, or lost property. The Prophet ﷺ advises that if someone finds a lost item, they should remember its distinguishing features and announce it publicly for a year. If no one claims it, the finder may keep it. The hadith also addresses lost livestock, indicating that sheep can be claimed by the finder, while camels should be left to find their way back to their owners. This illustrates the ethical treatment of lost property.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle encourages honesty and responsibility when finding lost items. It promotes the idea of making efforts to return lost property to its rightful owner, fostering a sense of community and trust.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction and Social Responsibility because it emphasizes the ethical obligation to return lost items and the social duty to care for community members.
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allah, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allah is Knowing of what you do.
This hadith is #2331 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Sulaiman bin Bilal from Yahya:.
