The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سُوَيْدَ بْنَ غَفَلَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ سَلْمَانَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، وَزَيْدِ بْنِ صُوحَانَ فِي غَزَاةٍ، فَوَجَدْتُ سَوْطًا. فَقَالَ لِي أَلْقِهِ. قُلْتُ لاَ، وَلَكِنْ إِنْ وَجَدْتُ صَاحِبَهُ، وَإِلاَّ اسْتَمْتَعْتُ بِهِ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا حَجَجْنَا فَمَرَرْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَسَأَلْتُ أُبَىَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ وَجَدْتُ صُرَّةً عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ، فَأَتَيْتُ بِهَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً ". فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ، فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً ". فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ، فَقَالَ " عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً ". فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ " اعْرِفْ عِدَّتَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ اسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا ".
While I as in the company of Salman bin Rabi`a and Suhan, in one of the holy battles, I found a whip.
One of them told me to drop it but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I
found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Medina, I
asked Ubai bin Ka`b about it. He said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of
the Prophet (ﷺ) and took it to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said to me, 'Make public announcement about it for one
year.' So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet (ﷺ) who said, 'Announce it publicly for
another year.' So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he said, "Announce for an
other year." So I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) for the fourth time, and he
said, 'Remember the amount of money, the description of its container and the string it is tied with,
and if the owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.' "
Narrated by Narrated Suwaid bin Ghafala:
Context
This hadith describes an incident where Suwaid bin Ghafala found a whip during a battle and was advised by his companions to drop it. He insisted on returning it to its owner or using it if the owner was not found. Later, he learned from Ubai bin Ka'b about a bag of money he had found, which the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to announce for a year before using it. This emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in handling lost property.
Modern Application
In modern life, this principle encourages individuals to act ethically 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 among individuals.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction because it highlights the importance of honesty and integrity in dealing with lost property, encouraging individuals to return what does not belong to them.
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."
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.
[We said], "And take in your hand a bunch [of grass] and strike with it and do not break your oath." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion - the day when the two armies met. And Allah, over all things, is competent.
This hadith is #2340 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Suwaid bin Ghafala:.
