The Ruling on Lost Property
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
A man was walking in the street and found a watch fob, which he took, not knowing what it was. After he reached his family in a distant land, he gave it to them, and it turned out to be a watch. He sat perplexed as to what he should do, and he has not been able to do anything for six, seven, or more years. Is it sufficient for him to make du'a for its owner and seek forgiveness for him, even though he does not know who the owner is? Please advise us.
Answer:
As for the one who found the watch fob—I think it is a watch fob—if it is gold and has value, then it is obligatory to announce it. He should announce it for a full year, in case someone recognizes it. He has delayed it too long; so it is obligatory for him to announce it if it has value. He should announce it in the town where he found it: "Who is the owner of the watch fob that was lost in such and such place, in such and such year?"
If he finds someone who recognizes it by its specific characteristics, he gives it to him. If no one is found who recognizes it, he gives it in charity, because he neglected to announce it and did not announce it at the proper time. He gives it in charity to some of the poor.
As for if the watch fob is of no value, worth fifty riyals or forty riyals, then the matter is easy. If he keeps it, there is no harm. If he gives it in charity, there is no harm, because it does not warrant an announcement. If he gave it to someone who recognized it, he would have spent his wages.
So the conclusion: A small amount is excused, ten riyals or twenty riyals. These are not pursued by people today; people are in the middle, because wealth has become abundant among people. So a small amount does not warrant an announcement. But if it is something of importance, it is announced for a full year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it belongs to the one who found it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: it is announced in the gathering places of people, twice, three times, or four times when people gather, when they leave the Friday prayer, and in the marketplace. If it is written in the newspaper, or broadcast on television, or on the radio, that is also good, if that is feasible.
Question: Another question: One of the car owners found a blanket in his car and does not know its owner, and a year has passed?
Answer: A blanket in a car is like lost property. It is from a passenger who lost it. If the blanket has value, if it has importance, it is announced for a year. If it is worth a considerable amount, 200 riyals, 300 riyals, it has importance, or at least 100 riyals, there is no harm in announcing it for a year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it is his. "Who is the owner of the blanket that was left in one of the cars?" In the town where he is, or nearby, in the gathering places of people for a full year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it is his. If it is of no value, worth nothing, then the matter is easy. If he uses it, there is no harm. If he gives it in charity, there is no harm.
A man was walking in the street and found a watch fob, which he took, not knowing what it was. After he reached his family in a distant land, he gave it to them, and it turned out to be a watch. He sat perplexed as to what he should do, and he has not been able to do anything for six, seven, or more years. Is it sufficient for him to make du'a for its owner and seek forgiveness for him, even though he does not know who the owner is? Please advise us.
Answer:
As for the one who found the watch fob—I think it is a watch fob—if it is gold and has value, then it is obligatory to announce it. He should announce it for a full year, in case someone recognizes it. He has delayed it too long; so it is obligatory for him to announce it if it has value. He should announce it in the town where he found it: "Who is the owner of the watch fob that was lost in such and such place, in such and such year?"
If he finds someone who recognizes it by its specific characteristics, he gives it to him. If no one is found who recognizes it, he gives it in charity, because he neglected to announce it and did not announce it at the proper time. He gives it in charity to some of the poor.
As for if the watch fob is of no value, worth fifty riyals or forty riyals, then the matter is easy. If he keeps it, there is no harm. If he gives it in charity, there is no harm, because it does not warrant an announcement. If he gave it to someone who recognized it, he would have spent his wages.
So the conclusion: A small amount is excused, ten riyals or twenty riyals. These are not pursued by people today; people are in the middle, because wealth has become abundant among people. So a small amount does not warrant an announcement. But if it is something of importance, it is announced for a full year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it belongs to the one who found it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: it is announced in the gathering places of people, twice, three times, or four times when people gather, when they leave the Friday prayer, and in the marketplace. If it is written in the newspaper, or broadcast on television, or on the radio, that is also good, if that is feasible.
Question: Another question: One of the car owners found a blanket in his car and does not know its owner, and a year has passed?
Answer: A blanket in a car is like lost property. It is from a passenger who lost it. If the blanket has value, if it has importance, it is announced for a year. If it is worth a considerable amount, 200 riyals, 300 riyals, it has importance, or at least 100 riyals, there is no harm in announcing it for a year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it is his. "Who is the owner of the blanket that was left in one of the cars?" In the town where he is, or nearby, in the gathering places of people for a full year. If it is recognized, fine; otherwise, it is his. If it is of no value, worth nothing, then the matter is easy. If he uses it, there is no harm. If he gives it in charity, there is no harm.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.