10/1. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1709 — Witnesses for Found Property
Finds
Hadith About Witnesses When Finding Lost Property
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1709
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1709
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ يَعْنِي الطَّحَّانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، - الْمَعْنَى - عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ - عَنْ عِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ وَجَدَ لُقَطَةً فَلْيُشْهِدْ ذَا عَدْلٍ - أَوْ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍ - وَلاَ يَكْتُمْ وَلاَ يُغَيِّبْ فَإِنْ وَجَدَ صَاحِبَهَا فَلْيَرُدَّهَا عَلَيْهِ وَإِلاَّ فَهُوَ مَالُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ " .
Iyad bin Himar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who finds something should call one or two trusty persons as witnesses and not conceal it or cover it up; then if he finds its owner he should return it to him, otherwise it is Allah's property which He gives to whom He will.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1709In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 9English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1705
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1709
This hadith about witnesses for lost property gives a strong lesson in honesty. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever finds something should call one or two trustworthy people as witnesses. The finder should not conceal it or cover it up. If the owner is found, the item must be returned. If the owner is not found, the hadith describes it as Allah’s property which He gives to whom He wills. The main message is open and clean behavior. A found item should not become a secret. Calling witnesses protects the finder from blame and helps protect the owner’s right. The hadith also warns against hiding what was found. It teaches that lost property in Islam is linked to trust, public honesty, and returning rights when the owner is known.
What we learn from this hadith
- The finder should call one or two trustworthy witnesses.
- A found item should not be concealed or hidden.
- If the owner is found, the property should be returned.
- Honesty protects both the finder and the owner.
