A person found a sum of money worth twenty silver pounds in a hole, so he took this money and spent it on his son’s medical treatment, who is in dire need. Does he owe anything?
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The questioner : A person found a sum of money worth twenty silver pounds
The Shaykh : Twenty silver pounds
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : The pounds are gold
The questioner : He mentioned silver
The Shaykh : Heh.
The questioner : ... in a hole where he found it
The Shaykh : Okay, repeat the question
The questioner : He says: A person found a sum of money worth twenty silver pounds in a hole, so he took this money and spent it on his son’s medical treatment, who is in dire need. Does he owe anything?
The Shaykh : If the buried money has a mark indicating that it is ancient money, not from the wealth of Muslims, this is called *rikaz* by the scholars; it is called *rikaz*. It is obligatory to pay out one-fifth of it. It is obligatory to pay out one-fifth. So if this *rikaz* is found and it is worth, for example, five thousand, the obligatory thing is to pay out one thousand, and the rest is for him to include in his wealth.
As for if this money that he found buried in the ground has no evidence that it is from the burial of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, then it is considered lost property. It is considered lost property, and he must search for its owner for one year. If its owner comes, [he returns it]; otherwise, it is for him. Yes.
The Shaykh : Twenty silver pounds
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : The pounds are gold
The questioner : He mentioned silver
The Shaykh : Heh.
The questioner : ... in a hole where he found it
The Shaykh : Okay, repeat the question
The questioner : He says: A person found a sum of money worth twenty silver pounds in a hole, so he took this money and spent it on his son’s medical treatment, who is in dire need. Does he owe anything?
The Shaykh : If the buried money has a mark indicating that it is ancient money, not from the wealth of Muslims, this is called *rikaz* by the scholars; it is called *rikaz*. It is obligatory to pay out one-fifth of it. It is obligatory to pay out one-fifth. So if this *rikaz* is found and it is worth, for example, five thousand, the obligatory thing is to pay out one thousand, and the rest is for him to include in his wealth.
As for if this money that he found buried in the ground has no evidence that it is from the burial of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, then it is considered lost property. It is considered lost property, and he must search for its owner for one year. If its owner comes, [he returns it]; otherwise, it is for him. Yes.