Book of the Fallen Lost Thing [Luqtah] (Ahadith 2105 – 2116)

Bismillah.

Ahadith 2094 – 2104 (below) are repeats. Related posts have been linked (see hyper-linked text).

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 597:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
A man was often cheated in buying. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to him, “When you buy something, say (to the seller), No cheating.” The man used to say so thenceforward .

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 598:
Narrated Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu):
A man manumitted a slave and he had no other property than that, so the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) cancelled the manumission (and sold the slave for him). No’aim bin Al-Nahham bought the slave from him.

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 599:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever takes a false oath so as to take the property of a Muslim (illegally) will meet Allah while He will be angry with him.” Al-Ash’ath (radiallaahu `anhu) said: By Allah, that saying concerned me. I had common land with a Jew, and the Jew later on denied my ownership, so I took him to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who asked me whether I had a proof of my ownership. When I replied in the negative, the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked the Jew to take an oath. I said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! He will take an oath and deprive me of my property.” So, Allah revealed the following verse: “Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths.” (3.77)

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 600:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Ka’b bin Malik:
Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) demanded his debt back from Ibn Abi Hadrad in the Mosque and their voices grew louder till Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) heard them while he was in his house. He came out to them raising the curtain of his room and addressed Ka’b, “O Ka’b!” Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) replied, “Labaik, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).” (He said to him), “Reduce your debt to one half,” gesturing with his hand. Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “I have done so, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)!” On that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said to Ibn Abi Hadrad, “Get up and repay the debt, to him.”

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 601:
Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (radiallaahu `anhu):
I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam (radiallaahu `anhu) reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way different to that of mine. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) had taught it to me (in a different way). So, I was about to quarrel with him (during the prayer) but I waited till he finished, then I tied his garment round his neck and seized him by it and brought him to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and said, “I have heard him reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way different to the way you taught it to me.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered me to release him and asked Hisham to recite it. When he recited it, Allah s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “It was revealed in this way.” He then asked me to recite it. When I recited it, he said, “It was revealed in this way. The Qur’an has been revealed in seven different ways, so recite it in the way that is easier for you.“

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 602:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama of the (compulsory congregational) prayer and then I would go to the houses of those who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them.“

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 603:
Narrated Aisha (radiallaahu `anhaa):
Abu bin Zam’a and Sad bin Abi Waqqas (radiallaahu `anhumaa) carried the case of their claim of the (ownership) of the son of a slave-qirl of Zam’a before the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam). Sad (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! My brother, before his death, told me that when I would return (to Mecca), I should search for the son of the slave-girl of Zam’a and take him into my custody as he was his son.” ‘Abu bin Zam’a (radiallaahu `anhu) said, ‘the is my brother and the son of the slave-girl of my father, and was born or my father’s bed.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) noticed a resemblance between Utba and the boy but he said, “O ‘Abu bin Zam’a! You will get this boy, as the son goes to the owner of the bed. You, Sauda, screen yourself from the boy.”

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 604:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) sent horsemen to Najd and they arrested and brought a man called Thumama bin Uthal, the chief of Yamama, and they fastened him to one of the pillars of the Mosque. When Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) came up to him; he asked, “What have you to say, O Thumama?” He replied, “I have good news, O Muhammad!” Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu) narrated the whole narration which ended with the order of the Prophet “Release him!”

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 605:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) sent some horsemen to Najd and they arrested and brought a man called Thumama bin Uthal from the tribe of Bani Hanifa, and they fastened him to one of the pillars of the Mosque.

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 606:
Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Ka’b bin Malik Al-Ansari from Ka’b bin Malik (radiallaahu `anhu):
That ‘Abdullah bin Abi Hadrad Al-Aslami owed him some debt. Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) met him and caught hold of him and they started talking and their voices grew loudest. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) passed by them and addressed Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu), pointing out to him to reduce the debt to one half. So, Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) got one half of the debt and exempted the debtor from the other half.

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 607:
Narrated Khabbab (radiallaahu `anhu):
I was a blacksmith In the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance, and ‘Asi bin Wail owed me some money. I went to him to demand it, but he said to me, “I will not pay you unless you reject faith in Muhammad.” I replied, “By Allah, I will never disbelieve Muhammad (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) till Allah let you die and then resurrect you.” He said, “Then wait till I die and come to life again, for then I will be given property and offspring and will pay your right.” So, thus revelation came: “Have you seen him who disbelieved in Our signs and yet says, ‘I will be given property and offspring?’ ” (19.77)

Kitaab-ul-Istiqraadh [Book of Loans and Bankruptcy] and sub-book Kitaab-ul-Khusoomaat [Book of Quarrels] ends here.

Kitaab-ul-Luqtah [Book of Lost Things Picked up by Someone] starts today..

Since most of the ahadith in this book are inter-related or repeats, I thought of doing them all together in one comprehensive post.

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 608:
Narrated Ubai bin Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu):
I found a purse containing one hundred Dinars. So I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) (and informed him about it), he said, “Make public announcement about it for one year” I did so, but nobody turned up to claim it, so I again went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said, “Make public announcement for another year.” I did, but none turned up to claim it. I went to him for the third time and he said, “Keep the container and the string which is used for its tying and count the money it contains and if its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.”
The sub-narrator Salama said, “I met him (Suwaid, another sub-narrator) in Mecca and he said, ‘I don’t know whether Ubai (radiallaahu `anhu) made the announcement for three years or just one year.’ “

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 609:
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani:
A bedouin went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) and asked him about picking up a lost thing. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Make public announcement about it for one year. Remember the description of its container and the string with which it is tied; and if somebody comes and claims it and describes it correctly, (give it to him); otherwise, utilize it.” He said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! What about a lost sheep?” The Prophet said, “It is for you, for your brother (i.e. its owner), or for the wolf.” He further asked, “What about a lost camel?” On that the face of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) became red (with anger) and said, “You have nothing to do with it, as it has its feet, its water reserve and can reach places of water and drink, and eat trees.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 610:
Narrated Sulaiman bin Bilal from Yahya:
Yazid Maula Al-Munba’ith heard Zaid bin Khalid al-Juham (radiallaahu `anhu) saying, “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was asked about Luqta. He said, ‘Remember the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and announce it publicly for one year.’ ” Yazid added, “If nobody claims then the person who has found it can spend it, and it is regarded as a trust entrusted to him.” Yahya said, “I do not know whether the last sentences were said by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) or by Yazid.” Zaid further said, “The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) was asked, ‘What about a lost sheep?’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Take it, for it is for you or for your brother (i.e. its owner) or for the wolf.” Yazid added that it should also be announced publicly. The man then asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about a lost camel. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Leave it, as it has its feet, water container (reservoir), and it will reach a place of water and eat trees till its owner finds it.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 611:
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid (radiallaahu `anhu):
A man came and asked Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about picking a lost thing. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Remember the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and make public announcement about it for one year. If the owner shows up, give it to him; otherwise, do whatever you like with it.” He then asked, “What about a lost sheep?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “It is for you, for your brother (i.e. its owner), or for the wolf.” He further asked, “What about a lost camel?” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “It is none of your concern. It has its water-container (reservoir) and its feet, and it will reach water and drink it and eat the trees till its owner finds it.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 612:
Narrated Anas (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) passed a date fallen on the way and said, “Were I not afraid that it may be from a Sadaqa (charitable gifts), I would have eaten it.”
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu): The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Sometimes when I return home and find a date fallen on my bed, I pick it up in order to eat it, but I fear that it might be from a Sadaqa, so I throw it.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 613:
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
When Allah gave victory to His Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) over the people of Mecca, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) stood up among the people and after glorifying Allah, said, “Allah has prohibited fighting in Mecca and has given authority to His Apostle and the believers over it, so fighting was illegal for anyone before me, and was made legal for me for a part of a day, and it will not be legal for anyone after me. Its game should not be chased, its thorny bushes should not be uprooted, and picking up its fallen things is not allowed except for one who makes public announcement for it, and he whose relative is murdered has the option either to accept a compensation for it or to retaliate.” Al-‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Except Al-ldhkhir, for we use it in our graves and houses.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Except Al-ldhkhir.” Abu Shah, a Yemenite, stood up and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Get it written for me.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Write it for Abu Shah.” (The sub-narrator asked Al-Auza’i): What did he mean by saying, “Get it written, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)?” He replied, “The speech which he had heard from Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam).”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 614:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “An animal should not be milked without the permission of its owner. Does any of you like that somebody comes to his store and breaks his container and takes away his food? The udders of the animals are the stores of their owners where their provision is kept, so nobody should milk the animals of somebody else, without the permission of its owner.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 615:
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani (radiallaahu `anhu):
A man asked Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about the Luqata. He said, “Make public announcement of it for one year, then remember the description of its container and the string it is tied with, utilize the money, and if its owner comes back after that, give it to him.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! What about a lost sheep?” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Take it, for it is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf.” The man asked, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! What about a lost camel?” Allah’s Apostle got angry and his cheeks or face became red, and said, “You have no concern with it as it has its feet, and its water-container, till its owner finds it.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 616:
Narrated Suwaid bin Ghafala:
While I as in the company of Salman bin Rabi’a and Suhan, in one of the holy battles, I found a whip. One of them told me to drop it but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Medina, I asked Ubai bin Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) about it. He said, “I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of the Prophet and took it to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said to me, ‘Make public announcement about it for one year.’ So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) who said, ‘Announce it publicly for another year.’ So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he said, “Announce for an other year.” So I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) for the fourth time, and he said, ‘Remember the amount of money, the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and if the owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.’ “

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 617:
Narrated Salama:
the above narration (Hadith 616) from Ubai bin Ka’b: adding, “I met the sub-narrator at Mecca later on, but he did not remember whether Ka’b (radiallaahu `anhu) had announced what he had found one year or three years.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 618:
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid (radiallaahu `anhu):
A bedouin asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about the Luqata. The Prophet said, “Make public announcement about it for one year and if then somebody comes and describes the container of the Luqata and the string it was tied with, (give it to him); otherwise, spend it.” He then asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about a lost camel. The face of the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) become red and he said, “You have no concern with it as it has its water reservoir and feet and it will reach water and drink and eat trees. Leave it till its owner finds it.” He then asked the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) about a lost sheep. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “It is for you, for your brother, or for the wolf.”

Volume 3, Book 42, Number 619:
Narrated Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu):
While I was on my way, all of a sudden I saw a shepherd driving his sheep, I asked him whose servant he was. He replied that he was the servant of a man from Quraish, and then he mentioned his name and I recognized him. I asked, “Do your sheep have some milk?” He replied in the affirmative. I said, “Are you going to milk for me?” He replied in the affirmative. I ordered him and he tied the legs of one of the sheep. Then I told him to clean the udder (teats) of dust and to remove dust off his hands. He removed the dust off his hands by clapping his hands. He then milked a little milk. I put the milk for Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) in a pot and closed its mouth with a piece of cloth and poured water over it till it became cold. I took it to the Prophet and said, “Drink, O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)!” He drank it till I was pleased.

Al-luqtah is property that has gone missing from its owner. This pure religion teaches that property is to be protected and preserved, and that the property of the Muslim is sacred and is to be protected. This includes al-luqtah or lost property.

If property goes missing from its owner, it has to be one of the following three scenarios:

The first scenario: it is something to which most people would not attach much value, such as a whip, or a loaf of bread, or some fruit, or a stick. In these cases, the person who finds the property may keep it and use it without having to announce it, because of the report narrated by Jaabir, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made exceptions in the case of a stick or a whip or a rope that a man picks up.” (Reported by Abu Dawood).

The second scenario: (animals) that are unlikely to be harmed by small predators, either because of their size, such as camels, horses, cattle and mules, or because they can fly, like birds, or because they move swiftly, like gazelles, or because they can defend themselves with their fangs, like leopards. This is the category which it is haraam to keep. These things do not become the property of the finder after he announces it for a year, because when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about a lost camel, he said: “What has it got to do with you? It has its water, it can walk to find water and it can eat trees until its owner finds it.” (Agreed upon). ‘Umar said, “Whoever takes a lost animal is misguided” i.e., he is a sinner. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ruled in this hadeeth that the lost animal should not be taken, it should be left to find its own water and to eat from the trees until its owner comes across it.

This also applies to large implements, such as big pans, wood, iron and anything that can be left alone without getting damaged. Such things can hardly be lost and cannot move from where they are, so it is haraam to take them just as it is haraam to take lost large animals, and in fact it may be more haraam to do so.

The third scenario: any other kind of lost property, such as money, luggage, and any animals that need to be protected from small predators, such as sheep, young camels and calves. If the one who finds them can trust himself not to harm or damage these things, then it is permissible for him to pick them up.

Read more here.

Advertisement