If he eats it or spends it, and then its owner comes to him and describes it in a way that identifies it.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Now, if he eats it or spends it, and then its owner comes to him and describes it in a way that identifies it?
The Shaykh : First, it is not permissible for him to dispose of it before the completion of the lunar year.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, it is obligatory for him to preserve it, unless it is of a kind that does not last until the completion of the lunar year, such as certain foods that spoil if kept, or if keeping it requires significant expenses. In that case, a person may sell it to be free from the expenses of maintaining it. There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it is obligatory for him to dispose of it in this manner at that time, because it is part of perfecting its preservation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, he should not dispose of it until he knows its characteristics. If its owner comes, he should tell him, "I disposed of this lost item that I found in such and such a way to preserve it, or to avoid the heavy expenses required to keep it."
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The Shaykh : As for when the lunar year has completed, it becomes his property, and he may dispose of it as he wishes. Then, if its owner comes, it is obligatory for him to return to him its equivalent, or they may agree on whatever they agree upon.
The questioner : Well done.
The Shaykh : First, it is not permissible for him to dispose of it before the completion of the lunar year.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Rather, it is obligatory for him to preserve it, unless it is of a kind that does not last until the completion of the lunar year, such as certain foods that spoil if kept, or if keeping it requires significant expenses. In that case, a person may sell it to be free from the expenses of maintaining it. There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it is obligatory for him to dispose of it in this manner at that time, because it is part of perfecting its preservation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, he should not dispose of it until he knows its characteristics. If its owner comes, he should tell him, "I disposed of this lost item that I found in such and such a way to preserve it, or to avoid the heavy expenses required to keep it."
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
The Shaykh : As for when the lunar year has completed, it becomes his property, and he may dispose of it as he wishes. Then, if its owner comes, it is obligatory for him to return to him its equivalent, or they may agree on whatever they agree upon.
The questioner : Well done.