What is the ruling on one who finds two lost goats belonging to their owner, announces them for a week, then sells them and gives the proceeds in charity?
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The questioner : A person asked me about a man who found two goats.
The Shaykh : Where did he find them?
The questioner : He found them at the door of the house. He asked the people if anyone knew them, but no one did. He went and sold them and gave the price in charity. Is this permissible for him? He announced them for approximately one week only.
The Shaykh : This is not called lost property. It is left until the animal returns to its owner or its home. He has already done so. If the owner of the goats is identified, he must provide compensation, and the charity is recorded for the finder. He is the one who compensates. One person asked me about an imam of a mosque who wants to raise rabbits in the mosque house.
Another questioner: Inside the mosque courtyard.
The Shaykh : Is that permissible for him? I told him there is an answer with some detail. In summary, if the house is separate from the mosque, he may do so. But if the house is part of the mosque, he may not. He told him that the one raising them said the house is separate from the mosque. I asked him, "And where is the entrance from? From the mosque or from the house?" He said, "From the mosque." We told him it is not permissible.
Another questioner: ...
The Shaykh : The questioner is the imam of a mosque, and I felt that he was the one asking, but it is possible that he was asked and found the answer difficult, so he asked.
The Shaykh : Where did he find them?
The questioner : He found them at the door of the house. He asked the people if anyone knew them, but no one did. He went and sold them and gave the price in charity. Is this permissible for him? He announced them for approximately one week only.
The Shaykh : This is not called lost property. It is left until the animal returns to its owner or its home. He has already done so. If the owner of the goats is identified, he must provide compensation, and the charity is recorded for the finder. He is the one who compensates. One person asked me about an imam of a mosque who wants to raise rabbits in the mosque house.
Another questioner: Inside the mosque courtyard.
The Shaykh : Is that permissible for him? I told him there is an answer with some detail. In summary, if the house is separate from the mosque, he may do so. But if the house is part of the mosque, he may not. He told him that the one raising them said the house is separate from the mosque. I asked him, "And where is the entrance from? From the mosque or from the house?" He said, "From the mosque." We told him it is not permissible.
Another questioner: ...
The Shaykh : The questioner is the imam of a mosque, and I felt that he was the one asking, but it is possible that he was asked and found the answer difficult, so he asked.