The ruling on one who picks up a lost item with the intention of identifying it, and then it is lost in his possession?
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If he picks it up with the intention of identifying it and then it is lost, is he liable for it?
If it was due to negligence, he is liable; if it was without negligence, he is not liable. Or if he transgressed.
Q: What if it was food in the Haram, and he feared it would spoil?
A: He sells it and preserves the price. He preserves its characteristics and sells it, or if he fears spoilage or something else, or fears it will be lost, he sells it and preserves its price, or if it is clothing.
Q: And he is not obligated to pick it up in this case, even if he fears it will spoil?
A: He is not obligated to.
Q: Even if he fears it will spoil?
A: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "Let him take it." He only specified that if he takes it, he must do such and such, and if he does not take it, it is not obligatory for him to force himself to do so.
If it was due to negligence, he is liable; if it was without negligence, he is not liable. Or if he transgressed.
Q: What if it was food in the Haram, and he feared it would spoil?
A: He sells it and preserves the price. He preserves its characteristics and sells it, or if he fears spoilage or something else, or fears it will be lost, he sells it and preserves its price, or if it is clothing.
Q: And he is not obligated to pick it up in this case, even if he fears it will spoil?
A: He is not obligated to.
Q: Even if he fears it will spoil?
A: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "Let him take it." He only specified that if he takes it, he must do such and such, and if he does not take it, it is not obligatory for him to force himself to do so.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.