Sahih Muslim #4369

The Book of Lost Property
Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ قَالَ ابْنُ حُجْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - وَهْوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا وَعِفَاصَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَنْفِقْ بِهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَبُّهَا فَأَدِّهَا إِلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ ‏"‏ خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى احْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ - أَوِ احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ - ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا حِذَاؤُهَا وَسِقَاؤُهَا حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Make announcement about it for a year, and recognise well the strap and the bag (containing that) ; then spend that; and if its owner comes, make him the payment of that. He (the inquirer) said: Messenger of Allah, what about the lost goat? he said: Take it, for that is yours or for your brother, or for the wolf. He (again) said: (What about) the lost camel? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was enraged until his cheeks became red (or his face became red) and then said: You have nothing to do about that; it has feet and a leather bag (to quench its thirst) until its owner finds it.
Narrated by Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani reported that a person asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about picking up of stray articles, whereupon he said:

Context

In this hadith, a man inquired about the proper handling of lost items. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to announce the found item for a year while recognizing its distinct features. For smaller animals like goats, he permitted keeping them, but for camels, he expressed that they are self-sufficient until their owners find them. This illustrates the balance between responsibility and practicality in Islamic ethics.

Modern Application

This principle applies today in various situations involving lost property. It encourages individuals to act ethically by making reasonable efforts to return lost items while recognizing the practicality of keeping smaller, less valuable items. This fosters a sense of community responsibility.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction because it emphasizes the ethical responsibility of individuals to return lost items while considering practicality in their actions.

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
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."
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."
سُورَةُ هُودٍ
Hud (Hud)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَيَٰقَوْمِ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةًۭ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌۭ قَرِيبٌۭ
And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah - [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allah 's earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment."
سُورَةُ الشُّعَرَاءِ
Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
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قَالَ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةٌۭ لَّهَا شِرْبٌۭ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ
He said, "This is a she-camel. For her is a [time of] drink, and for you is a [time of] drink, [each] on a known day.
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] her drink."

Common Words

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ٱلله4x
فى3x
ناقة3x
جزؤه2x
هذه2x
شرب2x
قالوا1x
من1x
وجد1x
رحله1x
فهو1x
كذلك1x
نجزى1x
ٱلظلمين1x
ويقوم1x
لكم1x
ءاية1x
فذروها1x
تأكل1x
أرض1x
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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #4369 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Lost Property. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Zaid b. Khalid al-Juhani reported that a person asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about picking up of stray articles, whereupon he said:.

About This Hadith