A man found livestock on the road, took it, and sold it for one hundred riyals because he was in need of money at that time
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The questioner : He said that he found livestock on the road, took it, and sold it for one hundred riyals. He said, "And I was in need of money at that time. When Allah provided me with wealth, what should I do, O honorable Shaykh? Should I buy livestock and leave it in place of the first one, or should I deal with this money? May Allah reward you with good."
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for one who finds livestock to search for its owner. By livestock, we mean what is permissible to pick up, such as sheep. As for what is forbidden to pick up, such as camels, it is not permissible for him to approach them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a lost camel and said:Sahih al-Bukhari 2372 However, if the lost animal is sheep or something similar that cannot defend itself from small predators, he may pick it up, but on the condition that he does so with the intention of returning it to its owner, and that he announce its loss for a full year. If its owner comes, he returns it; otherwise, it is his.
The questioner, as is clear from his question, did not do this. He did not announce the loss of this animal; rather, he took it, sold it, and spent its price. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to give in charity the price for which he sold it. If it was worth more than what he sold it for, let him give in charity what it was worth at the time of sale, along with repentance to Allah. Let him intend with this charity for the one who is its owner, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows who the owner is.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener is Hamud ibn Sulayman al-Juhani from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. He says:
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for one who finds livestock to search for its owner. By livestock, we mean what is permissible to pick up, such as sheep. As for what is forbidden to pick up, such as camels, it is not permissible for him to approach them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about a lost camel and said:
it has got its water-container (its stomach) and its hooves and it can reach the places of water and can eat the trees till its owner finds it
دعها، معها سقاؤها وحذاؤها ترد الماء وتأكل الشجر حتى يجدها ربهاThe questioner, as is clear from his question, did not do this. He did not announce the loss of this animal; rather, he took it, sold it, and spent its price. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to give in charity the price for which he sold it. If it was worth more than what he sold it for, let him give in charity what it was worth at the time of sale, along with repentance to Allah. Let him intend with this charity for the one who is its owner, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) knows who the owner is.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener is Hamud ibn Sulayman al-Juhani from al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. He says: