What is the ruling on one who finds lost property in the Haram?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : This has trapped us, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : ...
The questioner : I say it has trapped us. He says: This is a gold ring that I found in one of the furnished apartments. And because I did not trust the owners of this building and the residents, I took it, since I am not a resident of the city. I am giving it to you to dispose of it as you see fit?
The Shaykh : I do not accept this. He found gold and says, "I am giving it to you to dispose of it as you see fit." I say, I do not accept it. And in this case, the one who found it must search for its owner for one year. If the owner comes, it is his; otherwise, it belongs to the finder. If he is unable to do so, which is the usual case as long as he is a traveler, he should deliver it to the court, to the judge. The judge is the agent in such matters and disposes of it accordingly.
The questioner : He takes it, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes, take it, you, Adnan.
The questioner : Where...
The Shaykh : The court.
The questioner : Now, its owner takes it, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Where is its owner?
The questioner : Send it to us.
The Shaykh : Okay, where is he?
The Shaykh : ...
The questioner : I say it has trapped us. He says: This is a gold ring that I found in one of the furnished apartments. And because I did not trust the owners of this building and the residents, I took it, since I am not a resident of the city. I am giving it to you to dispose of it as you see fit?
The Shaykh : I do not accept this. He found gold and says, "I am giving it to you to dispose of it as you see fit." I say, I do not accept it. And in this case, the one who found it must search for its owner for one year. If the owner comes, it is his; otherwise, it belongs to the finder. If he is unable to do so, which is the usual case as long as he is a traveler, he should deliver it to the court, to the judge. The judge is the agent in such matters and disposes of it accordingly.
The questioner : He takes it, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes, take it, you, Adnan.
The questioner : Where...
The Shaykh : The court.
The questioner : Now, its owner takes it, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Where is its owner?
The questioner : Send it to us.
The Shaykh : Okay, where is he?