And if someone retrieves his sandal—or any similar belonging of his—and finds a different one left in its place, that item is treated as lost property. He does not own it simply by finding it; rather, he must announce it publicly. Once the announcement period is complete, he may take from it only what equals his due and give the remainder in charity.

Eighth: When a child or a person of unsound mind discovers a lost article and takes possession of it, the responsibility for announcing it falls upon the guardian. The guardian must also remove the item from their hands, for they are not qualified to safeguard trusts. If the guardian leaves it with them and it is lost, he is liable, having neglected his duty. After the guardian has completed the announcements and no claimant appears, the item becomes a provisional property of the child or incompetent person, just as it would for a competent adult.

Ninth: If someone picks up a lost article and then returns it to the very spot where he found it, he is still liable for it. Once it has come into his hand it becomes a trust, and he is obliged to preserve it like any other deposited property; abandoning it again constitutes negligence.

Note: Islam’s teachings on lost property demonstrate its vigilant concern for the preservation of wealth and the inviolability of a Muslim’s possessions. Overall, these rulings show how Islam encourages mutual cooperation in all that is good.

We ask Allah, the Exalted, to keep us all steadfast upon Islam and to cause us to die as Muslims.