A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about lost property.He replied, "Announce it for a year, then take note of its string and container, then make use of it. If its owner comes, return it to him."The man asked, "Messenger of Allah, what about a stray sheep?"He said, "Take it, for it is either for you, for your brother, or for the wolf."The man asked, "Messenger of Allah, what about a stray camel?"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ became angry until his cheeks turned red, or his face turned red, and said, "What business do you have with it? It has its hooves and its water supply with it until its owner finds it."
حدثنا قتيبة بن سعيد حدثنا إسمعيل بن جعفر عن ربيعة بن أبي عبد الرحمن عن يزيد مولى المنبعث
أن رجلا سأل رسول الله ﷺ عن اللقطة قال عرفها سنة ثم اعرف وكاءها وعفاصها ثم استنفق بها فإن جاء ربها فأدها إليه فقال يا رسول الله فضالة الغنم فقال خذها فإنما هي لك أو لأخيك أو للذئب قال يا رسول الله فضالة الإبل فغضب رسول الله ﷺ حتى احمرت وجنتاه أو احمر وجهه وقال ما لك ولها معها حذاؤها وسقاؤها حتى يأتيها ربها
Reported by Bukhari, in the chapter on lost property, "If the owner of a found item comes after a year, it should be returned to him, since it is held as a trust," hadith no. 2436, and Muslim, in the chapter on lost property, "Knowledge of the container and the tying cord, and the ruling on stray sheep and camels," hadith no. 1722, from Qutayba with this same chain.