Rulings on Lost Property

Question:
Ali Hasan asks: What is the ruling on lost property?

Answer:
Lost property has specific rulings. For camels, it is not permissible to interfere with them because there is no sin in leaving them, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . As for lost gold, silver, food, and movable wealth, if it is of some significance and has value, one should take it on the condition that he identifies it for a year. He must know its distinguishing marks, then call out about it for a year, describing it as such, until he finds its owner and returns it to him. If the year passes and he knows it but no one comes, he may spend it; it becomes his property, though with a caveat. If its owner comes on any day in the future, he must pay it to him unless the owner waives his right to it. As for trivial things that have no value, such as a date, a small item, a short stick, or a rope of no value, there is no harm in taking them and benefiting from them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a date fallen on the road, picked it up, and said, "If it were not that I feared it might be from charity, I would have eaten it." This indicates that a person may benefit from a trivial item.