10/1. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1713 — Keep a Stray Sheep Until Claimed
Finds
Hadith About Keeping a Stray Sheep Until Its Owner Comes
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1713
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1713
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا . قَالَ فِي ضَالَّةِ الشَّاءِ " فَاجْمَعْهَا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهَا بَاغِيهَا " .
'Amr bin Shu'aib Narrated from:
The above mentioned tradition has also been narrated by ‘Amr bin Shu’aib from his father, from his grandfather, from the Prophet (SWAS) to the same effect. This version has: regarding the stray sheep he said: Take it (and keep it with you) till its seeker comes to it.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1713In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 13English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1709
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1713
This hadith about keeping a stray sheep gives a careful form of the instruction. It says to gather the sheep until its seeker comes to it. This wording helps show the purpose of taking it. The sheep is gathered for care and protection, not to erase the right of the owner. The hadith also fits with other reports in the same topic, where a stray sheep is described as being at risk if left alone. Here, the focus is on holding it until the person seeking it arrives. This makes the teaching easy to understand: when a vulnerable animal is found, the finder may protect it, but should stay ready to return it. The hadith is a practical lesson in trust and responsibility.
What we learn from this hadith
- A stray sheep may be gathered for protection.
- The animal should be kept until its seeker comes.
- The finder should not treat the animal as ownerless without care.
- Protecting lost property includes being ready to return it.
