Sahih al-Bukhari — Distribution of Water — Hadith No: 2372
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ، فَقَالَ " اعْرِفْ عِفَاصَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا، ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً، فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ فَشَأْنَكَ بِهَا ". قَالَ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ " هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ". قَالَ فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ قَالَ " مَالَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا سِقَاؤُهَا وَحِذَاؤُهَا، تَرِدُ الْمَاءَ وَتَأْكُلُ الشَّجَرَ، حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا ".
Translation
Narrated Zaid bin Khalid:A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and asked about Al-Luqata (a fallen thing). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Recognize its container and its tying material and then make a public announcement about it for one year and if its owner shows up, give it to him; otherwise use it as you like." The man said, "What about a lost sheep?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is for you, your brother or the wolf." The man said "What about a lost camel?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Why should you take it as it has got its water-container (its stomach) and its hooves and it can reach the places of water and can eat the trees till its owner finds it?