because he no longer wanted them—as Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, wished to set his camel free (1). It belongs to whoever finds it.

Does this include cars that have been involved in accidents and remain on the roads? Should we say that these are among the things their owners have abandoned because they no longer want them, and that it is therefore permissible for someone to take from them? Or is that not permissible?

We say: one must consider the condition of the vehicle. If it contains equipment and we know that it is valuable, and that its owner will return for it, then it is not permissible to take it. But if it is merely a burnt-out frame, containing nothing but iron that needs to be melted down, then it belongs to whoever finds it, because we know that its owner will not return for it.

The second category is that which people would not ordinarily seek after because of its trivial value, such as a pen worth one dirham. This is insignificant and is not something people of moderate means would seek after. Whoever finds it may keep it—unless he knows its owner, in which case he must deliver it to him or inform him of it, because it is no longer lost property once its owner is known.

The third category is the one to which the author referred: that which people of moderate means would seek after. This must be publicly announced for one year; its details will be mentioned, Allah willing.

His statement, “people of moderate means”: does it mean those of moderate financial means, those of moderate frugality, or both together?

The answer is: both together. That is, people of moderate means who are neither