Sahih al-Bukhari 2428
Narrated Sulaiman bin Bilal from Yahya:
Yazid Maula Al-Munba'ith heard Zaid bin Khalid al-Juham saying, "The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about 
Luqata. 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 (ﷺ) or by Yazid." Zaid further said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, 'What about a lost 
sheep?' The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) about a lost 
camel. The Prophet (ﷺ) 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."
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ زَيْدَ بْنَ خَالِدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏"‏ اعْرِفْ عِفَاصَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً ‏"‏‏.‏ يَقُولُ يَزِيدُ إِنْ لَمْ تُعْتَرَفِ اسْتَنْفَقَ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا وَكَانَتْ وَدِيعَةً، عِنْدَهُ‏.‏ قَالَ يَحْيَى فَهَذَا الَّذِي لاَ أَدْرِي أَفِي حَدِيثِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ أَمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تَرَى فِي ضَالَّةِ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ يَزِيدُ وَهْىَ تُعَرَّفُ أَيْضًا‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ تَرَى فِي ضَالَّةِ الإِبِلِ قَالَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ دَعْهَا فَإِنَّ مَعَهَا حِذَاءَهَا وَسِقَاءَهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ، حَتَّى يَجِدَهَا رَبُّهَا ‏"‏‏.‏