Sahih Muslim #4370

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.

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ، وَمَالِكُ، بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَعَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ وَغَيْرُهُمْ أَنَّ رَبِيعَةَ بْنَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَهُمْ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ، مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ زَادَ قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا مَعَهُ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو فِي الْحَدِيثِ ‏ "‏ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَأْتِ لَهَا طَالِبٌ فَاسْتَنْفِقْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏
" There came a person to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while I was with him, and he asked him about picking up of a stray article, and he said: When none comes to demand it, then spend that."
Narrated by This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Rabi'a b. Abu Abd al-Rahman with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition:

Context

In this narration, a man inquires about the rules surrounding finding lost items. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructs that one should identify the item and announce it for a year. If the owner does not claim it, the finder may keep it. This illustrates the balance between personal ownership and the rights of the original owner.

Modern Application

This guidance is relevant today in fostering ethical behavior regarding lost property. It encourages individuals to act with integrity, ensuring that found items are returned to their rightful owners whenever possible.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction because it outlines the moral responsibilities associated with found property.

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الحَشۡرِ
Al-Hashr (The Exile)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيْنَ ٱلْأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
سُورَةُ يُوسُفَ
Yusuf (Joseph)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
قَالَ مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ أَن نَّأْخُذَ إِلَّا مَن وَجَدْنَا مَتَٰعَنَا عِندَهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّظَٰلِمُونَ
He said, "[I seek] the refuge of Allah [to prevent] that we take except him with whom we found our possession. Indeed, we would then be unjust."
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌۭ
They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it."
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muhammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the countenance of Allah. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
سُورَةُ الجُمُعَةِ
Al-Jumu'a (Friday)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذَا رَأَوْا۟ تِجَٰرَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمًۭا ۚ قُلْ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَٰرَةِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers."

Common Words

121 total87 unique13 repeated
ٱلله8x
من8x
وما6x
خير6x
ما3x
وٱليتمى2x
وٱلمسكين2x
وٱبن2x
ٱلسبيل2x
لا2x
إلا2x
قل2x
تنفقوا2x
أفاء1x
على1x
رسوله1x
أهل1x
ٱلقرى1x
فلله1x
وللرسول1x
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About Sahih Muslim

This hadith is #4370 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Lost Property. It is graded Sahih and narrated by This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Rabi'a b. Abu Abd al-Rahman with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition:.

About This Hadith