If someone were to ask: What is the evidence that it must be announced for a year?

We say: It is established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning a lost item: “Learn its container and its fastening, then announce it for one year.” (1) Thus, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, made clear that it is to be announced for a year. We know with certainty that the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, did not mean that one should remain announcing it night and day. Rather, this is to be determined by customary practice. Some scholars have exercised independent judgment and said: It should be announced every day during the first week, then once each week for a month, and then once every month. This specification is an independent judgment for which there is no evidence, but what is preferable is to refer to customary practice.

If a lost item is found in a place between two villages, should it be announced in one of them or in both?

This depends. If this item, for example, is commonly found in the eastern town but not in the western town, then it should be announced in the western town, because people customarily bring goods to the place where they are scarce. Accordingly, we say that whoever is in the western town bought this item from the eastern town, so it should be announced in the western town.

But if the item is found equally in both villages, should we consider the nearer one or the farther one?

If they are equally distant, then we say: Announce it in both of them—in this one and that one—because it is possible that it belongs to someone from this village, and it is possible that it belongs to someone from that village. Drawing lots is not feasible here.