Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhani said: A man asked the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم about a find. He said: Make the matter known for a year, then note its string and its container and then use it for your purpose. Then if its owner comes, give it to him. He asked: Messenger of Allah, what about a stray sheep? He replied: Take it; that is for you, or for your brother, or for the wolf. He again asked: Messenger of Allah, What about stray camels? The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم became angry so much so that his cheeks became red or (the narrator is doubtful) his face became red. He replied: What have you to do with them? They have with them their feet and their stomachs (for drink) till their master comes to him.

Suwayd ibn Ghaflah said: I fought along with Zayd ibn Suhan and Sulayman ibn Rabiah. I found a whip. They said to me: Throw it away. I said: No; if I find its owner (I shall give it to him); if not, I shall use it. Then I performed hajj; and when I reached Madina, I asked Ubayy ibn Kab. He said: I found a purse which contained one hundred dinars; so I came to the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم . He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. I made it known for a year and then came to him. He then said to me: Make the matter known for a year. So I made it known for a year. I then (again) came to him. He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. Then I came to him and said: I did not find anyone who realises it. He said: Remember, its number, its container and its tie. If its owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself. He (the narrator Shubah) said: I do not know whether he said the word "make the matter known" three times or once.

The above mentioned tradition has also been transmitted by Malik through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: They have their stomachs: They can go down to water and eat trees. He did not say about the stray sheep: take it. About a find he said: Make it known for a year; if it’s owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself. This version has not the word:“ spend it”. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by al-Thawri, Sulaiman bin Bilal, and Hammad bin Salamah on the authority of Rabi ‘ ah in a similar manner. They did not mention the word“take it”.

Narrated Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was asked about a find. He said: Make it known for a year. If its seeker comes, deliver it to him, otherwise note its container and its string. Then use it; if its seeker comes, deliver it to him.

The aforesaid tradition has also been transmitted by Zaid bin Khalid al-Juhani through a different chain of narrators. This version has: The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was asked about a find. He replied: Make the matter known for a year; if its owner comes, give it to him, otherwise note its string and its container and have it along with your property. If its owner comes, deliver it to him.

The above mentioned tradition has also been transmitted by Yahya bin Saeed and Rabiah through the chain of narrators mentioned by Qutaibah to the same effect. This version adds; if its seeker comes, and recognizes its container and its number, then give it to him. Hammad also narrated it from `Ubaid Allah bin Umar from Amr bin Shuaib, from his father, from his grandfather, from the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم something similar. Abu Dawud said: This addition made by Hammad bin Salamah bin Kuhail, Yahya bin Saeed, `Ubaid Allah bin Umar and Rabiah;“if its owner comes and recognizes its container, and its string, ”is not guarded. The version narrated by Uqbah bin Suwaid on the authority of his father from the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has also the words:“make it known for a year”. The version of Umar bin al-Khattab has also been transmitted from the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم . This version has:“Make it known for a year”.

Narrated Iyad ibn Himar: The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم 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.