Mishkat al-Masabih 3036 — Business Transactions

‘Amr b. Shu'aib Narrated from:

God’s Messenger was asked about hanging fruit and said, “If a needy person takes some and does not take a supply away in his garment he is not to be blamed, but he who carries any of it away is to be fined twice the value and punished and he who steals any of it after it has been put in the place where dates are dried is to have his hand cut off if their value reaches the price of a shield*.”Regarding stray camels and sheep (Or 'goats') he mentioned the same as others have done. He said he was asked about finds and replied, “If it is in a frequented road and a large town make the matter known for a year and if its owner comes give it to him, but if he does not it belongs to you; but if it is in a place which has been waste from ancient times, or if it is hidden treasure belonging to the pre-Islamic period it is subject to payment of the fifth.”*The price of a shield in the Prophet’s time is said to have been a quarter of a dinar. Ten dirhams is also mentioned Nasa’i transmitted it. Abu Dawud transmitted from ‘Amr from “he was asked about finds” to the end.