The Ruling on Finding Lost Sheep and Camels
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
What is your opinion if a person finds a sheep or a camel in a desolate area, and it gives birth until it multiplies? Is it permissible for the one who kept it, watered it, and cared for it, or is it forbidden for him? And is an expiation obligatory if he eats something from it?
Answer:
If a person finds a sheep, whether from the flock of sheep or goats, in a place where it is in danger because it is not near the dwellings of the people or the owners of the sheep, or the like, then this is called a lost item. If he takes it and announces it for a year in the gathering places of people and in the places where it is likely to be recognized, and no one recognizes it, then it becomes his; it becomes part of his wealth, and he disposes of it like the rest of his wealth after the year. However, he must preserve its characteristics and marks so that if its seeker comes one day, he returns it to him, or pays its value if it is lost. This is what is obligatory upon him in all lost items: to announce it for a full year in the gathering places of people, twice, three times, or four times a month, according to what is feasible. If it is recognized, praise be to Allah; otherwise, he uses it like the rest of his wealth.
If keeping it in his hand may harm him and harm its owner, he sells it and preserves its price and its characteristics until he finds its owner. And if he is near the courts and the country, he registers it with the court, and if he wishes, he leaves it with the court to be kept there. If its owner comes, it is handed over to him. If he wishes, he keeps it with him until the year passes. If the year passes and no one is found for it, then it is like the rest of his wealth, whether by itself or by its value.
As for camels, they are not to be picked up. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 2372 and he forbade picking them up, so they are not to be picked up, except if they are in a place infested with beasts of prey, meaning: in danger of being destroyed by the beasts of prey on the earth. In that case, he drives them to safe land until they are far from the danger, and he will be rewarded for that. As for taking them, no; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade picking up camels, and said: Sahih al-Bukhari 2372.
Question : The rest of the question: If he finds a she-camel whose owner he does not know, then he milks it and drinks its milk, is there an expiation for that?
Answer: If he finds it in the desert and drinks from it, it does not harm him, if Allah wills, and there is no blame on him for that.
What is your opinion if a person finds a sheep or a camel in a desolate area, and it gives birth until it multiplies? Is it permissible for the one who kept it, watered it, and cared for it, or is it forbidden for him? And is an expiation obligatory if he eats something from it?
Answer:
If a person finds a sheep, whether from the flock of sheep or goats, in a place where it is in danger because it is not near the dwellings of the people or the owners of the sheep, or the like, then this is called a lost item. If he takes it and announces it for a year in the gathering places of people and in the places where it is likely to be recognized, and no one recognizes it, then it becomes his; it becomes part of his wealth, and he disposes of it like the rest of his wealth after the year. However, he must preserve its characteristics and marks so that if its seeker comes one day, he returns it to him, or pays its value if it is lost. This is what is obligatory upon him in all lost items: to announce it for a full year in the gathering places of people, twice, three times, or four times a month, according to what is feasible. If it is recognized, praise be to Allah; otherwise, he uses it like the rest of his wealth.
If keeping it in his hand may harm him and harm its owner, he sells it and preserves its price and its characteristics until he finds its owner. And if he is near the courts and the country, he registers it with the court, and if he wishes, he leaves it with the court to be kept there. If its owner comes, it is handed over to him. If he wishes, he keeps it with him until the year passes. If the year passes and no one is found for it, then it is like the rest of his wealth, whether by itself or by its value.
As for camels, they are not to be picked up. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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
إن معها سقاءها، وحذاءها، ترد الماء، وتأكل الشجر، حتى يلقاها ربهاit 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
إن معها سقاءها، وحذاءها، ترد الماء، وتأكل الشجر، حتى يلقاها ربهاQuestion : The rest of the question: If he finds a she-camel whose owner he does not know, then he milks it and drinks its milk, is there an expiation for that?
Answer: If he finds it in the desert and drinks from it, it does not harm him, if Allah wills, and there is no blame on him for that.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.