Hadith 12
Distribution of Water
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?"
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 ".
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