His statement, “or a lost animal,” refers to an animal that has strayed. The difference between lost property and a lost animal is that a lost animal has will and can recognize its way, yet it becomes lost, whereas lost property has no will.

His statement, “or performs work for another without a stipulated reward, is not entitled to compensation,” means that he will have his reward with Allah. Accordingly, if he finds lost property of great value and says to its owner, “Give me some payment,” the owner is not obliged to give him anything, and the finder is compelled to hand it over to its owner without charge—unless a reward had been stipulated, as when the owner says, “Whoever returns my lost property shall receive such-and-such,” in which case he is given the stipulated reward.

The same applies to a lost animal: if someone returns an animal that is permissible to pick up, he is not entitled to compensation unless a reward had been stipulated for him. This is because no contract exists between him and the owner. Thus, it is said to him: You will have your reward with Allah; but as for being entitled to anything from the owner, then no.

The author excepted a case established by textual evidence, saying:

“Except for one dinar or twelve dirhams for returning a runaway slave.” A dinar is gold currency, and a dirham is silver currency. If you consider the valuation in this matter, in blood-money compensation, and in the theft threshold, it becomes clear that in the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, one dinar was equal to twelve dirhams. This is why the hand is cut off for a quarter of a dinar (1) or for three dirhams (2), and blood-money compensation