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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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What is the ruling on lost camels and sheep?

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Question:
Lost camels?

Answer:
It is from ghalul (taking what is not one’s right); taking it is ghalul:
It is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf.هي لك أو لأخيك أو للذئب
Sahih al-Bukhari 2438
except if it is in a place where it is in danger; he takes it and sends it to the competent authorities that preserve it. If it is in a place where thieves take it and eat it, or in a deadly land with no pasture or water, the scholars mentioned that among the interests brought by the Shari'ah is that he takes it and hands it over to the authorities if there is a competent department for it, or otherwise he sells it and hands it over to the court if he fears for its safety.
The point is that he delivers it to the competent department if he is able, and the competent department does what is best: selling it, or placing it with government shepherds, placing it in a place where it is preserved for its owner, while documenting its characteristics...
Q: Lost sheep?
A: No, this is lost sheep; he does not leave it, he takes it, it is for his brother or for the wolf, he takes it and announces it for a year, if it is recognized, otherwise it is yours, and he documents its characteristics and its age. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who found a stray article is himself led astray if he does not advertise it.مَن آوى ضالَّةً فهو ضالٌّ ما لم يعرفها
Sahih Muslim 1725
, he takes it and announces it for a full year, and if it is spring and it is possible to place it with the sheep to graze, he places it with the sheep to graze, and if he fears for it, he sells it and preserves its price and bears witness to that, and to its characteristics, and announces it for a year, if it is recognized, otherwise it is his.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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