He said, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about lost property of gold or silver. He replied, "Identify its string and its container, then announce it for a year. If no one claims it, then make use of it, but let it remain a trust with you, so that if its owner comes seeking it one day, you can hand it over to him."He was asked about stray camels. He answered, "What business do you have with them? Leave them alone, for they have their hooves and their water supply with them. They can reach water and feed on trees until their owner finds them."He was asked about stray sheep. He said, "Take it, for it is either for you, for your brother, or for the wolf."
يقول: سئل رسول الله ﷺ عن اللقطة الذهب أو الورق، فقال: اعرف وكاءها وعفاصها، ثم عرفها سنة، فإن لم تعرف فاستنفقها، ولتكن وديعة عندك، فإن جاء طالبها يوما من الدهر فأدها إليه. وسأله عن ضالة الإبل، فقال: ما لك ولها؟ دعها؛ فإن معها حذاءها وسقاءها، ترد الماء، وتأكل الشجر حتى يجدها ربها. وسأله عن الشاة، فقال: خذها؛ فإنما هي لك، أو لأخيك، أو للذئب.
Muslim narrated it in the chapter on lost property (1722:5) from Abdullah bin Maslama bin Qanab, who said, "Sulayman (meaning Ibn Bilal) narrated to us, from Yahya bin Saeed, from Yazid the freed slave of Munbaith, that he heard Zayd bin Khalid Juhani," and he mentioned it.Muslim also narrated it through the hadith of Hammad bin Salama, who said, "Yahya bin Saeed and Rabia the jurist bin Abu Abdul-Rahman narrated to me, from Yazid the freed slave of Munbaith, from Zayd bin Khalid, that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about a stray camel." Rabia added, "So he became angry until his cheeks turned red." He then related the hadith in a manner similar to their version, adding, "If its owner comes and identifies its container, its count, and its tie, give it to him. Otherwise, it is yours."