4 – He must be able to identify its ʿifāṣ (container), that is, the vessel or cloth in which it is wrapped.

5 – He must also know its wikāʾ (tying cord), meaning how it is fastened and with what it is bound, for the claimant’s knowledge of these details is the proof that substantiates his claim that the article is his lost property.

6 – It is unlawful for the finder to conceal any part of the item or any of its identifying features in order to mislead the owner when he describes it, and it is equally impermissible to remove anything from it. Whoever does so has committed wrongdoing with respect to the trust he holds.

7 – The fact that it is forbidden for the finder to hide some of its attributes shows that his denial or concealment is legally significant, and that his statement is accepted—along with an oath—regarding its loss, its value, and any deficiency. This is because he is a trustee, and the word of a trustee is admissible concerning what has been entrusted to him, provided he swears to it.

8 – The item must be returned to its owner whenever he appears, whether that is before one full year has elapsed from the time it was picked up or afterward; the ḥadith applies in both situations. The wording reported by al-Tirmidhī and Abū Dāwūd—“Announce it for a year; if it is claimed, hand it over. Otherwise, note its container, tying cord, and quantity, then make use of it, and if its owner comes, return it to him”—demonstrates that the owner’s right remains even after the year has passed, provided he is found.

9 – If an entire year passes after it was picked up and publicly announced, and the owner is still not located, it becomes sustenance from Allah granted to the finder; he acquires ownership of it automatically from the moment the year is completed.

10 – The instruction to call witnesses, to safeguard its container and tying cord, and the prohibition against concealing or removing anything from it all underscore the obligation to care for and protect it until its owner is found. These directives were legislated precisely to preserve the property for its rightful owner, for the Sacred Law stands with the weak whose right may be lost, whereas the one who already possesses his property has sufficient concern for it and needs no further exhortation.

11 – When a claimant arrives and accurately describes the item, it must be given to him without requiring additional proof or an oath, in obedience to the Prophet’s ﷺ command, for his detailed description takes the place of testimony and an oath. Muslim narrated this on the authority of Zayd