for it is either yours, your brother’s, or the wolf’s.” (Agreed upon). The sense is that the animal is weak, exposed to destruction, and hovers between your taking it, someone else’s taking it, or a wolf’s devouring it.

Ibn al-Qayyim, commenting on this noble ḥadīth, wrote: “It indicates that collecting stray sheep is lawful, and that if the owner does not come, the sheep becomes the finder’s property. He may then choose among three courses: slaughter and eat it immediately while paying its current value; sell it and safeguard the price; or leave it¹ and spend on its upkeep from his own wealth. The scholars unanimously agree that if the owner arrives before the finder has eaten it, he is entitled to reclaim it.”

The second type of lost property is anything liable to spoil, such as melons or other fruit. The finder should do whatever best serves the owner’s interest: either eat it and pay its value to the owner, or sell it and keep the proceeds safe until the owner appears.

The third type includes all other property not covered by the previous two categories—cash, utensils, and the like. The finder must keep all such items in his possession as a trust and make public announcements about them.

He is not permitted to pick up any lost property unless he is confident of his own honesty and able to make the necessary proclamations. This is based on the ḥadīth of Zayd ibn Khālid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet ﷺ was asked about a lost purse of gold or silver. He replied: “Identify its cord and its pouch, then announce it for a year. If it is not claimed, spend it, yet let it remain a trust with you; and if its claimant appears at any time, hand it over to him.” He then asked him