Definition of Lost Property and Its Rulings
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
And may Allah bless you. Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: What is the definition of lost property? And if a person finds some of it, how does he act and clear his conscience?
Answer:
Lost property is lost wealth. If the lost item is not something that the average people would seek out, such as a date, a short rope, or a stick, he takes it and benefits from it. However, if the lost item is something that the average people would seek out and has monetary value, then if the lost item is money, he identifies its distinguishing marks, its container, which is the bag it is in, and its tie. Then he announces it for a year in the gatherings of people. If its owner comes and describes it in a way that matches it, he hands it over to him. If the owner does not come after the completion of the year of announcement, he takes it and owns it with a cautious ownership. If the owner comes, he pays him; if he does not come, he owns it.
And if he gives it in charity with the intention of reward for its owner, and if the owner comes, he pays him, and the reward is for him. Or if its owner approves of it as charity, his conscience is cleared in that. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
And may Allah bless you. Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: What is the definition of lost property? And if a person finds some of it, how does he act and clear his conscience?
Answer:
Lost property is lost wealth. If the lost item is not something that the average people would seek out, such as a date, a short rope, or a stick, he takes it and benefits from it. However, if the lost item is something that the average people would seek out and has monetary value, then if the lost item is money, he identifies its distinguishing marks, its container, which is the bag it is in, and its tie. Then he announces it for a year in the gatherings of people. If its owner comes and describes it in a way that matches it, he hands it over to him. If the owner does not come after the completion of the year of announcement, he takes it and owns it with a cautious ownership. If the owner comes, he pays him; if he does not come, he owns it.
And if he gives it in charity with the intention of reward for its owner, and if the owner comes, he pays him, and the reward is for him. Or if its owner approves of it as charity, his conscience is cleared in that. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 03/011 — archive.org (14:28)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.