68/22. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5292 — Lost Property and Responsibility
The regulations concerning the property and family of a lost person
وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ إِذَا فُقِدَ فِي الصَّفِّ عِنْدَ الْقِتَالِ تَرَبَّصُ امْرَأَتُهُ سَنَةً. وَاشْتَرَى ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ جَارِيَةً وَالْتَمَسَ صَاحِبَهَا سَنَةً فَلَمْ يَجِدْهُ وَفُقِدَ، فَأَخَذَ يُعْطِي الدِّرْهَمَ وَالدِّرْهَمَيْنِ وَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنْ فُلاَنٍ وَعَلَيَّ. وَقَالَ هَكَذَا فَافْعَلُوا بِاللُّقَطَةِ. وَقَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فِي الأَسِيرِ يُعْلَمُ مَكَانُهُ لاَ تَتَزَوَّجُ امْرَأَتُهُ، وَلاَ يُقْسَمُ مَالُهُ فَإِذَا انْقَطَعَ خَبَرُهُ فَسُنَّتُهُ سُنَّةُ الْمَفْقُودِ.
Luqata Hadith: Lost Sheep, Lost Camel, and Found Property
Sahih Bukhari : 5292
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5292
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنْ ضَالَّةِ الْغَنَمِ فَقَالَ " خُذْهَا، فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ". وَسُئِلَ عَنْ ضَالَّةِ الإِبِلِ، فَغَضِبَ وَاحْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ، وَقَالَ " مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا، مَعَهَا الْحِذَاءُ وَالسِّقَاءُ، تَشْرَبُ الْمَاءَ، وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ، حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا ". وَسُئِلَ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ " اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا وَعِفَاصَهَا، وَعَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، فَإِنْ جَاءَ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا، وَإِلاَّ فَاخْلِطْهَا بِمَالِكَ ". قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَلَقِيتُ رَبِيعَةَ بْنَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ـ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ وَلَمْ أَحْفَظْ عَنْهُ شَيْئًا غَيْرَ هَذَا ـ فَقُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ حَدِيثَ يَزِيدَ مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ فِي أَمْرِ الضَّالَّةِ، هُوَ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ. قَالَ يَحْيَى وَيَقُولُ رَبِيعَةُ عَنْ يَزِيدَ مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَلَقِيتُ رَبِيعَةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ.
Yazid Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked regarding the case of a lost sheep. He said, "You should take it, because it is for you, or for your brother, or for the wolf." Then he was asked about a lost camel. He got angry and his face became red and he said (to the questioner), "You have nothing to do with it; it has its feet and its water container with it; it can go on drinking water and eating trees till its owner meets it."And then the Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about a Luqata (money found by somebody). He said, "Remember and recognize its tying material and its container, and make public announcement about it for one year. If somebody comes and identifies it (then give it to him), otherwise add it to your property."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5292In-book reference : Book 68, Hadith 41USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 214
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5292
This luqata hadith gives clear guidance about different types of lost property. When the Prophet was asked about a lost sheep, he said to take it, because it is for the finder, for his brother, or for the wolf. When he was asked about a lost camel, he became angry and said the questioner had nothing to do with it, because the camel has its feet and water container and can drink and eat until its owner finds it. Then he was asked about found money or property. He said to recognize its tie and container, announce it for one year, and if the owner comes and identifies it, return it. Otherwise, it may be mixed with one's property. The Hadith teaches that lost items are not all treated the same.
What we learn from this hadith
- A lost sheep may be taken because it is vulnerable.
- A lost camel is left because it can survive until its owner finds it.
- Found property should be identified by its features and announced for one year.
- The owner has the right to claim it if he identifies it.
