Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

وَ رَوَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ اَلْبَرْقِيُّ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ يَأْكُلُ مِنَ اَلضَّالَّةِ إِلاَّ اَلضَّالُّونَ ".

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqi (may Allah (swt) be pleased with him) narrated from Wahb ibn Wahb, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), who said: "None consume from lost property except those who are themselves lost."

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً صَلَوَاتُ اَللَّهِ وَ سَلاَمُهُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: "إِيَّاكُمْ وَ اَللُّقَطَةَ فَإِنَّهَا ضَالَّةُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِ وَ هِيَ حَرِيقٌ مِنْ حَرِيقِ جَهَنَّمَ ".

In a narration from Mas'adah ibn Ziyad, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) said: "Beware of taking lost property, for it is the loss of a believer, and it is a flame from the flames of Hell."

وَ سَأَلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، أَخَاهُ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَللُّقَطَةِ يَجِدُهَا اَلْفَقِيرُ هُوَ فِيهَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلْغَنِيِّ فَقَالَ "نَعَمْ" قَالَ "وَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ "هِيَ لِأَهْلِهَا لاَ تَمَسُّوهَا " " قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يُصِيبُ دِرْهَماً أَوْ ثَوْباً أَوْ دَابَّةً كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ "يُعَرِّفُهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ جَعَلَهَا فِي عَرْضِ مَالِهِ حَتَّى يَجِيءَ طَالِبُهَا فَيُعْطِيَهَا إِيَّاهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ أَوْصَى بِهَا وَ هُوَ لَهَا ضَامِنٌ ".

Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (a.s) about a lost item found by a poor person, whether he is in the same position regarding it as a wealthy person. Imam (a.s) said: "Yes." Imam (a.s) further said: " Imam Ali ibn Al-Hussain (a.s) used to say, 'It belongs to its owner, do not touch it.'" He (Ali ibn Ja'far) said: I also asked Imam (a.s) about a man who finds a dirham, a piece of clothing, or a riding animal, what should he do? Imam (a.s) said: "He should announce it for one year. If its owner does not come forward, he should keep it as part of his property until its claimant appears, and then he must return it. If he dies, he should include it in his will, and he is responsible for it."

وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ فِي بَيْتِهِ دِينَاراً فَقَالَ "يَدْخُلُ مَنْزِلَهُ غَيْرُهُ" فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ كَثِيرٌ قَالَ "هَذِهِ لُقَطَةٌ" قُلْتُ وَ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ فِي صُنْدُوقِهِ دِينَاراً قَالَ "يُدْخِلُ أَحَدٌ يَدَهُ فِي صُنْدُوقِهِ غَيْرُهُ أَوْ يَضَعُ فِيهِ شَيْئاً" قُلْتُ لاَ قَالَ "فَهُوَ لَهُ".

Ibn Mahbub narrated from Jamil ibn Salih, from Abu Abdullah (a.s), who said: I asked Imam (a.s) about a man who found a dinar in his house. Imam (a.s) said: "Does anyone else enter his house?" I said: "Yes, many people enter." Imam (a.s) said: "Then it is considered lost property (luqata)." I asked: "What about a man who found a dinar in his locked box?" Imam (a.s) said: "Does anyone else put their hand into his box or place something in it?" I said: "No." Imam (a.s) said: "Then it belongs to him."

وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ اَلْخَيَّاطِ قَالَ: كَتَبْتُ إِلَى اَلطَّيِّبِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ فِي اَلْمَسْجِدِ اَلْحَرَامِ فَرَأَيْتُ دِينَاراً فَأَهْوَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ لآِخُذَهُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِآخَرَ ثُمَّ بَحَثْتُ اَلْحَصَى فَإِذَا أَنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَأَخَذْتُهَا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفْهَا أَحَدٌ فَمَا تَرَى فِي ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "إِنِّي قَدْ فَهِمْتُ مَا ذَكَرْتَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اَلدَّنَانِيرِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ مُحْتَاجاً فَتَصَدَّقْ بِثُلُثِهَا وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ غَنِيّاً فَتَصَدَّقْ بِالْكُلِّ".

Muhammad ibn Isa narrated from Muhammad ibn Raja' al-Khiyyat, who said: I wrote to al-Tayyib Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (a.s): "I was in the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and saw a dinar. I reached out to take it, and then I found another one. I searched the pebbles and found a third. I took them and announced them, but no one claimed them. What do you advise regarding this matter?" Imam (a.s) wrote in reply: "I have understood what you mentioned about the dinars. If you are in need, then give one-third of them in charity. But if you are wealthy, then give all of them in charity."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى اَلْجَمَّالِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: "مَنْ وَجَدَ ضَالَّةً فَلَمْ يُعَرِّفْهَا ثُمَّ وُجِدَتْ عِنْدَهُ فَإِنَّهَا لِرَبِّهَا وَ مِثْلُهَا مِنْ مَالِ اَلَّذِي كَتَمَهَا ".

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Safwan ibn Yahya al-Jammal that he heard Abu Abdullah (a.s) say: "Whoever finds lost property and does not announce it, then it is later found in his possession, it must be returned to its owner, and he must also pay an equivalent amount from his own wealth for having concealed it."

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي اَلْعَلاَءِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَالاً فَعَرَّفَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتِ اَلسَّنَةُ اِشْتَرَى بِهَا خَادِماً فَجَاءَ طَالِبُ اَلْمَالِ فَوَجَدَ اَلْجَارِيَةَ اَلَّتِي اِشْتَرَاهَا بِالدَّرَاهِمِ هِيَ اِبْنَتُهُ قَالَ "لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ إِلاَّ اَلدَّرَاهِمَ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ اَلاِبْنَةُ إِنَّمَا لَهُ رَأْسُ مَالِهِ إِنَّمَا كَانَتِ اِبْنَتُهُ مَمْلُوكَةَ قَوْمٍ".

It is narrated from Abu al-Ala, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s) about a man who found some money, announced it for a year, and then used it to buy a servant. Later, the owner of the money came and found that the servant purchased with the money was actually his daughter. Imam (a.s) said: "He is only entitled to take the money and not the daughter. What he is entitled to is his principal amount, as the daughter was previously the property of others."

وَ رَوَى أَبُو خَدِيجَةَ سَالِمُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ اَلْجَمَّالُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَهُ ذَرِيحٌ: عَنِ اَلْمَمْلُوكِ يَأْخُذُ اَللُّقَطَةَ فَقَالَ "مَا لِلْمَمْلُوكِ وَ اَللُّقَطَةِ اَلْمَمْلُوكُ لاَ يَمْلِكُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ شَيْئاً فَلاَ يَعْرِضُ لَهَا اَلْمَمْلُوكُ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لِلْحُرِّ أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهَا سَنَةً فِي مَجْمَعٍ فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا دَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلاَّ كَانَتْ مِنْ مَالِهِ فَإِنْ مَاتَ كَانَتْ مِيرَاثاً لِوُلْدِهِ وَ لِمَنْ وَرِثَهُ فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ دَفَعُوهَا إِلَيْهِ".

Abu Khadijah Salim ibn Mukram al-Jammal narrated from Abu Abdullah (a.s) that Dharih asked him about a servant who picks up lost property. Imam (a.s) said: "What does a servant have to do with lost property? A servant does not own anything for himself, so he should not interfere with it. It is proper for a free person to announce it for one year in a public gathering. If its owner comes, he should return it to him. Otherwise, it becomes part of his property. If he dies, it becomes inheritance for his children and those who inherit from him. But if the owner comes after that, they must return it to him."

وَ سَأَلَهُ دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي يَزِيدَ: عَنِ اَلْإِدَاوَةِ وَ اَلنَّعْلَيْنِ وَ اَلسَّوْطِ يَجِدُهُ اَلرَّجُلُ فِي اَلطَّرِيقِ أَ يَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ قَالَ "لاَ يَمَسَّهُ".

Dawud ibn Abi Yazid asked him about finding a water container, a pair of sandals, or a whip on the road, whether a person may use them. Imam (a.s) said: "He should not touch them."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "لاَ بَأْسَ بِلُقَطَةِ اَلْعَصَا وَ اَلشِّظَاظِ وَ اَلْوَتِدِ وَ اَلْحَبْلِ وَ اَلْعِقَالِ وَ أَشْبَاهِهِ".

Imam (a.s) said: "There is no harm in picking up lost items such as a staff, a strap, a peg, a rope, a hobble, and similar things."

وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ اَلشَّاةِ اَلضَّالَّةِ بِالْفَلاَةِ فَقَالَ لِلسَّائِلِ هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لِأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ قَالَ "وَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَمَسَّهَا وَ عَنِ اَلْبَعِيرِ اَلضَّالِّ أَيْضاً" قَالَ "مَا لَكَ وَ لَهُ بَطْنُهُ وِعَاؤُهُ وَ خُفُّهُ حِذَاؤُهُ وَ كَرِشُهُ سِقَاؤُهُ خَلِّ عَنْهُ".

Imam (a.s) was asked about a lost sheep in the wilderness. Imam (a.s) said to the questioner: "It is either yours, your brother's, or the wolf's." Then Imam (a.s) said: "I do not like to touch it." And when asked about a lost camel, Imam (a.s) said: "What do you have to do with it? Its belly is its container, its hooves are its shoes, and its stomach is its water carrier. Leave it alone."

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَللُّقَطَةِ وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ "تُعَرِّفُهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ وَجَدْتَ صَاحِبَهَا وَ إِلاَّ فَأَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِهَا".

It is narrated from Hanan ibn Sadir, who said: A man asked Abu Abdullah (a.s) about lost property while I was listening. Imam (a.s) said: "Announce it for one year. If you find its owner, return it to him; otherwise, you are more entitled to keep it."

يَعْنِي لُقَطَةَ غَيْرِ الْحَرَمِ.

He meant lost property found outside the Sacred Sanctuary (Haram).

وَ رَوَى اَلسَّكُونِيُّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "قَضَى عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ دَابَّتَهُ مِنْ جَهْدٍ قَالَ "إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي كَلَإٍ وَ مَاءٍ وَ أَمْنٍ فَهِيَ لَهُ يَأْخُذُهَا حَيْثُ أَصَابَهَا وَ إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي خَوْفٍ وَ غَيْرِ مَاءٍ وَ لاَ كَلَإٍ فَهِيَ لِمَنْ أَصَابَهَا " ".

Al-Sakuni narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), who said: Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) ruled regarding a man who abandoned his animal due to hardship. Imam (a.s) said: "If he left it in a place with grass, water, and safety, it remains his, and he may reclaim it wherever he finds it. But if he left it in a place with danger, without water or grass, then it belongs to whoever finds it."

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ جُعْلِ اَلْآبِقِ وَ اَلضَّالَّةِ قَالَ "لاَ بَأْسَ".

It is narrated from Wahb ibn Wahb, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), who said: I asked Imam (a.s) about the reward for returning a runaway slave or lost property. Imam (a.s) said: "There is no harm in it."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: فِي اَلضَّالَّةِ يَجِدُهَا اَلرَّجُلُ فَيَنْوِي أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لَهَا جُعْلاً فَتَنْفُقُ قَالَ "هُوَ ضَامِنٌ لَهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْوِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لَهَا جُعْلاً فَنَفَقَتْ فَلاَ ضَمَانَ عَلَيْهِ ".

Al-Husayn ibn Zayd narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s), who said: Commander of the Faithful (a.s) used to say regarding lost property found by someone who intends to take a reward for returning it, but it dies (or perishes): "He is liable for it. However, if he did not intend to take a reward and it dies (or perishes), then he is not liable for it."

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ اَلْحِمْيَرِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي كِتَابٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اِشْتَرَى جَزُوراً أَوْ بَقَرَةً أَوْ شَاةً أَوْ غَيْرَهَا لِلْأَضَاحِيِّ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا فَلَمَّا ذَبَحَهَا وَجَدَ فِي جَوْفِهَا صُرَّةً فِيهَا دَرَاهِمُ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ جَوَاهِرُ أَوْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اَلْمَنَافِعِ لِمَنْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ وَ كَيْفَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "عَرِّفْهَا اَلْبَائِعَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْهَا فَالشَّيْءُ لَكَ رَزَقَكَ اَللَّهُ إِيَّاهُ".

It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Himyari, who said: I wrote to Imam (a.s) asking about a man who bought a camel, a cow, a sheep, or any other animal, whether for sacrifice or otherwise. After slaughtering it, he found a pouch inside it containing dirhams, dinars, jewels, or other valuable items. To whom does it belong, and what should he do with it? Imam (a.s) wrote in response: "Inform the seller about it. If he does not claim it, then it is yours, Allah (swt) has provided it for you."

وَ رَوَى اَلْحَجَّالُ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ إِنِّي قَدْ أَصَبْتُ مَالاً وَ إِنِّي قَدْ خِفْتُ فِيهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَلَوْ أَصَبْتُ صَاحِبَهُ دَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ تَخَلَّصْتُ مِنْهُ قَالَ لَهُ "فَوَ اَللَّهِ لَوْ أَصَبْتَهُ كُنْتَ تَدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ" قَالَ إِي وَ اَللَّهِ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "فَلاَ وَ اَللَّهِ مَا لَهُ صَاحِبٌ غَيْرِي" قَالَ وَ اِسْتَحْلَفَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ إِلَى مَنْ يَأْمُرُهُ قَالَ فَحَلَفَ قَالَ "اِذْهَبْ فَاقْسِمْهُ فِي إِخْوَانِكَ وَ لَكَ اَلْأَمَانُ فِيمَا خِفْتَ" قَالَ فَقَسَمَهُ بَيْنَ إِخْوَانِهِ.

Al-Hajjal narrated from Dawud ibn Abi Yazid, from Abu Abdullah (a.s), who said: A man said to Imam (a.s): "I have come across some wealth, and I fear for my safety because of it. If I were to find its owner, I would return it to him and be free from it." Imam (a.s) said to him, "By Allah (swt), if you were to find its owner, would you truly return it to him?" The man replied: "Yes, by Allah (swt)." Imam (a.s) then said: "By Allah (swt), it has no owner other than me." Imam (a.s) then made the man swear to distribute it as Imam (a.s) instructed. The man swore, and Imam (a.s) said: "Go and distribute it among your brothers, and you are safe from what you feared." So, the man divided it among his brothers.

قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ كَانَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ تَعْرِيفِهِ سَنَةً.

The compiler of this book (may Allah (swt) have mercy on him) stated that this occurred after the man had announced it for one year.

وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَفْضَلُ مَا يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ اَلْإِنْسَانُ فِي اَللُّقَطَةِ إِذَا وَجَدَهَا أَلاَّ يَأْخُذَهَا وَ لاَ يَتَعَرَّضَ لَهَا فَلَوْ أَنَّ اَلنَّاسَ تَرَكُوا مَا يَجِدُونَهُ لَجَاءَ صَاحِبُهُ فَأَخَذَهُ ".

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "The best approach for a person regarding lost property (luqata) when they find it is to leave it and not touch it. If people were to leave what they find, its owner would eventually come and take it."

وَ إِنْ كَانَتِ اللُّقَطَةُ دُونَ دِرْهَمٍ فَهِيَ لَكَ لَا تُعَرِّفْهَا وَ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ فِي الْحَرَمِ دِينَاراً مُطَلَّساً فَهُوَ لَكَ لَا تُعَرِّفْهُ وَ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ طَعَاماً فِي مَفَازَةٍ فَقَوِّمْهُ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ لِصَاحِبِهِ ثُمَّ كُلْهُ فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهُ فَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْقِيمَةَ وَ إِنْ وَجَدْتَ لُقَطَةً فِي دَارٍ وَ كَانَتْ عَامِرَةً فَهِيَ لِأَهْلِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ خَرَاباً فَهِيَ لِمَنْ وَجَدَهَا.

And if the found item (luqata) is less than a dirham, then it belongs to you, and you do not have to announce it. If you find a worn-out dinar in the sacred precinct (Haram), it belongs to you, and you do not have to announce it. If you find food in a desolate place, then estimate its value for yourself on behalf of its owner, and eat it; if its owner comes, return the value to him. If you find a lost item in an inhabited house, then it belongs to its residents; and if it is found in a deserted ruin, then it belongs to whoever finds it.