The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No. 2196- If a person finds a property which bears a sign and its value is equal to a dirham or more, it is obligatory upon him to make an announcement about it for a year irrespective of whether the found property belongs to a Muslim or a non-Muslim under the protection of Muslims. However, if he announces it every day for a week from the day he found it, and then announces once a week until the end of the year at the place of gathering of the people, it will be sufficient.

Issue No. 2197- If, instead of announcing verbally, he makes a written announcement at places where people come and go, and the people there are mostly literate or the literate individuals read out the announcement to the illiterate ones, and if it remains there for a year, it will be sufficient.

Issue No. 2198- If before the year comes to an end, a person loses all hope of finding the owner of the lost property which he has found or he has no hope of finding the owner from the beginning, he should, as an obligatory precaution, give that property on behalf of its original owner to the poor.

Issue No. 2199- If a place is allocated to the lost property in one of the Holy Shrines or Mosques and if people know that they should refer to that place for their lost property and if the people in charge of that place are reliable, it is sufficient to deliver the lost property to that place. And the persons in charge of that place should keep it for one year and in case its owner does not show up, they should act according to the next issue. Moreover, if in some cities such a place has been allocated for the lost property and people are aware of it, the obligation of announcing this lost property is lifted from the finders through submitting the object to those places.

Issue No. 2200- If it is announced for a year or it is kept in the allocated place for lost properties and the owner does not show up, he (the finder) may choose between the following four options:1- Keep it for himself with the intention that whenever its owner shows up he may return it to him, or give its substitute if the same property is no longer available.2- Keep it for the owner as a trust (amānah).3- Give it as ṣadaqa in the way of Allah on behalf of its owner.4- Give it to the Mujtahid. However, the recommended precaution is to give it as ṣadaqa or to hand it over to the Mujtahid.

Issue No. 2201- If after announcing for one year, the owner of the property does not show up, in case he keeps it as a trust for its owner and it perishes, he will not be responsible for the loss if he has not been negligent or extravagant in looking after it. However, if he gives it as ṣadaqa on behalf of the owner and if the owner turns up and does not give consent to the giving of it as ṣadaqa, he should give its replacement.

Issue No. 2202- If a minor finds a property, his legal guardian should, as an obligatory precaution, make an announcement and if its owner does not show up after having announced for a year, he should act according to one of the four options mentioned while taking into consideration the child’s interest.

Issue No. 2203- If during the year in which a person has been making an announcement (about the lost property which had been found), the property perishes, he is not responsible, unless he has been negligent or extravagant in looking after it.

Issue No. 2204- If a person finds a property and picks it up under the impression that it is his own property, but realizes later that it is not his, he cannot leave it there. In fact, he should act according to the foregoing ruling and make an announcement for a year. And if he moves it with his foot, it does not have the aforesaid ruling, though doing such is problematic.

Issue No. 2205- The announcement for the lost thing should be made in such a way that its signs do not become clear, and if a person comes forward and claims that it is his property and also mentions certain signs of identification by which he may become sure that it belongs to him, it should be given to him. However, it is not necessary to mention the signs of which mostly even the owners do not take notice.

Issue No. 2206- If the value of a property one finds is one dirham or more, and if he does not make an announcement about it, but leaves it in the mosque or at places of public gathering, and it perishes or somebody picks it up, the person who found it first will be responsible.

Issue No. 2207- If a person finds something which decays if left as it is, like most foods and fruits, he should keep it as long as it does not decay, then he should appraise it and consume it himself or sell it and keep the money with him. And if its owner is not found, he should give it as alms on his behalf, and if he has access to a Mujtahid, he should, as a recommended precaution, get his permission.