The Ruling on Cutting Trees and Picking Up Lost Items in the Sacred Precinct

The questioner : Is cutting trees among the prohibitions of ihram, or among the prohibitions of the Haram? Likewise, if a person finds something fallen on the ground, whether it is valuable or not, should he take it or leave it?

The Shaykh : Yes, cutting trees has no connection to ihram. Its connection is to the Haram, which is different from the non-sacred area. Accordingly, anyone who is within the miles of the Haram is forbidden from cutting trees before exiting the state of ihram and after exiting it. If he is outside the works of the Haram, it is permissible for him to cut trees before he exits and after he exits. Accordingly, the pilgrim at 'Arafah is permitted to cut trees, and the pilgrim at 'Arafah is permitted to cut trees. And whoever is in Muzdalifah or Mina, it is not permissible for him to cut trees.
As for the lost item, if it is in the Haram, meaning within the miles, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Its fallen items are not permissible except for one who announces it." He said: "Its fallen items are not permissible except for one who announces it," meaning except for a person who intends to announce it, meaning to seek its owner for as long as he lives. But if it is outside the Haram, then picking it up is like picking up any lost item in any place. If a person is safe for himself and guarantees that he will identify it for one year, he picks it up and identifies it for one year. If its owner comes, he returns it; otherwise, it is his. If he does not guarantee his safety for it, let him leave it. However, if there is an authority, committee, or group appointed by the one in authority to receive lost items, let him take it and deliver it to this committee or authority appointed by the one in authority. Because taking it and entrusting it to these people is better than it remaining on the ground where it is lost, or a person who does not care about it taking it and possessing it.