ذِكْرُ الْبَيَانِ بِأَنَّ تَعْرِيفَ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ الصُّرَّةَ الَّتِي الْتَقَطَهَا الْأَحْوَالَ الثَّلَاثَةَ، إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ بِأَمْرِ الْمُصْطَفَى ﷺ لَا مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِهِ

I found a purse containing one hundred Diners. So I went to the Prophet (and informed him about it), he said, "Make public announcement about it for one year" I did so, but nobody turned up to claim it, so I again went to the Prophet ﷺ who said, "Make public announcement for another year." I did, but none turned up to claim it. I went to him for the third time and he said, "Keep the container and the string which is used for its tying and count the money it contains and if its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it." The sub-narrator Salama said, "I met him (Suwaid, another sub-narrator) in Mecca and he said, 'I don't know whether Ubai made the announcement for three years or just one year.' "  

أَخَذْتُ صُرَّةً مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلَهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ ثَلاَثًا فَقَالَ احْفَظْ وِعَاءَهَا وَعَدَدَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ فَلَقِيتُهُ بَعْدُ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي ثَلاَثَةَ أَحْوَالٍ أَوْ حَوْلاً وَاحِدًا  

While I as in the company of Salman bin Rabiʿa and Suhan, in one of the holy battles, I found a whip. One of them told me to drop it but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Medina, I asked Ubai bin Kaʿb about it. He said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and took it to the Prophet ﷺ who said to me, 'Make public announcement about it for one year.' So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet ﷺ who said, 'Announce it publicly for another year.' So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he said, "Announce for an other year." So I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet ﷺ for the fourth time, and he said, 'Remember the amount of money, the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and if the owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.' "  

وَجَدْتُ صُرَّةً عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ بِهَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ الرَّابِعَةَ فَقَالَ اعْرِفْ عِدَّتَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ اسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا  

I heard Sowaid b. Ghafala say: I went out, and also Zaid b. Suhan and Salman b. Rabi'a for Jihad, and I found a whip and took it up. They said to me: Leave it. I said: No. but I will make announcement of it and if its owner comes (then I will return that), otherwise I will use it, and I refused them. When we returned from Jihad. by a good fortune for me, I performed Pilgrimage. I came to Medina and met Ubayy b. Ka'b, and related to him the affair of the whip and their opinion (the opinion of Zaid b. Suhan and Salman b. Rabi'a) about it (i. e. I should throw it). Thereupon he said: I found a money bag during the lifetime of Messenger of Allah ﷺ which contained one hundred dinars. I came to him along with it, and he said: Make an announcement of it for one year; so I announced it, but did not find anyone who could (claim it after) recognising it. I again came to him and he said: Make announcement for one year. So I made announcement of it, but I found none who could recognise it. I came to him he said: Make announcement of it for one year. I made announcement of that but did not find one who could recognise it, whereupon he said: Preserve (in your mind) its number, its bag and its strap, and if its owner comes (then return that to him), otherwise make use of it. So I made use of that. I (Shu'ba) met him (Salama b. Kuhail) after this in Mecca, and he said: I do not know whether he said three years or one year.  

إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُ بِهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً قَالَ فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا فَقَالَ احْفَظْ عَدَدَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ بِهَا فَلَقِيتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي بِثَلاَثَةِ أَحْوَالٍ أَوْ حَوْلٍ وَاحِدٍ  

I fought along with Zayd ibn Suhan and Sulayman ibn Rabi'ah. I found a whip. They said to me: Throw it away. I said: No; if I find its owner (I shall give it to him); if not, I shall use it. Then I performed hajj; and when I reached Medina, I asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b. He said: I found a purse which contained one hundred dinars; so I came to the Prophet ﷺ. He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. I made it known for a year and then came to him. He then said to me: Make the matter known for a year. So I made it known for a year. I then (again) came to him. He said to me: Make the matter known for a year. Then I came to him and said: I did not find anyone who realises it. He said: Remember, its number, its container and its tie. If its owner comes, (give it to him), otherwise use it yourself. He (the narrator Shu'bah) said: I do not know whether he said the word "make the matter known" three times or once.  

وَجَدْتُ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَمْ أَجِدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا فَقَالَ احْفَظْ عَدَدَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا وَقَالَ وَلاَ أَدْرِي أَثَلاَثًا قَالَ عَرِّفْهَا أَوْ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً  

"I went out with Zaid bin Suhan and Salman bin Rabi'ah, and found a whip." In his narration Ibn Numair (one of the narrators) said: "I found a lost whip and took it. They said: 'Leave it'. I said: 'I will not leave it to be eaten by predators. I will take it to make use of it.' So I met up with Ubayy bin Ka'b and asked him about that. So he narrated the Hadith, he said: 'That is fine. I found a sack containing one hundred Dinar during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ' He said: 'So I brought it to him. He said to me: "Make a public announcement about it for one year." So I announced it for a year but did not find anyone to claim it. Then I brought it to him. He said to me: "Make a public announcement about it for another year." So I announced it for a year but did not find anyone to claim it. Then I brought it to him. He said: "Make a public announcement about if for another year." And he said: "Remember its amount, its container and its string. If someone comes seeking it and informs you of its amount and its string, then give it to him, otherwise use it."  

أَحْسَنْتَ أَنَا وَجَدْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لِي عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلاً فَمَا أَجِدُ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً آخَرَ فَعَرَّفْتُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلاً آخَرَ وَقَالَ أَحْصِ عِدَّتَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا فَأَخْبَرَكَ بِعِدَّتِهَا وَوِعَائِهَا وَوِكَائِهَا فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَيْهِ وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ  

“I went out with Zaid bin Suhan and Salman bin Rabi'ah, and when we were at ʿUdhaib, I found a whip. They said to me: 'Throw it away,' but I refused. When we came to Al-Madinah I went to Ubayy bin Ka'b and told him about that. He said: 'You did the right thing. I found one hundred dinar that had been lost at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I asked him about it. He said, “Announce it for a year.” So I Announced it, and I did not find anyone who recognized it. He said: “Remember the features of its bag and strap, and how many it contains, then announce it for a year. If someone comes who describes it with those features, (give it to him), otherwise it is like your own property.”  

أَصَبْتَ الْتَقَطْتُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَدًا يَعْرِفُهَا فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَدًا يَعْرِفُهَا فَقَالَ اعْرِفْ وِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا وَعَدَدَهَا ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ جَاءَ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا وَإِلاَّ فَهِيَ كَسَبِيلِ مَالِكَ  

[Machine] I obtained one hundred Dinars during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , so I asked him about it. He said, "Identify its year." So, I informed him of its year, but I did not find anyone who knew about it. He said, "Identify its number, container, and location." Then, I informed him of its year, and if its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, it is yours." This is the statement of Waki'. Ibn Numayr said in his hadith, "He said, 'Identify its year.' So, I informed him of its year in different ways. Then, I went to him, and he said, 'Identify its year.' So, I informed him of its year in different ways. Then, I went to him, and he said, 'Identify its year.' So, I informed him of its year in different ways. Then, I went to him again, and he said, 'Know its number, container, and location.' If someone informs you about its number, container, and location, give it to him; otherwise, enjoy it."  

الْتَقَطْتُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا سَنَةً فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَدًا يَعْرِفُهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ اعْرِفْ عَدَدَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا ثُمَّ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا وَإِلَّا فَهِيَكَسَبِيلِ مَالِكَ وَهَذَا لَفْظُ وَكِيعٍ وَقَالَ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ اعْلَمْ عِدَّتَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُكَ بِعِدَّتِهَا وَوِعَائِهَا وَوِكَائِهَا فَأَعْطِهَا إِيَّاهُ وَإِلَّا فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا  

[Machine] I found a hundred dinars and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, "Recognize it for a year." So I recognized it for a year. Then I went to him and said, "I have recognized it for a year." He said, "Recognize it for another year." So I recognized it for another year. Then I went to him for the third time and he said, "Count them and enjoy them."  

الْتَقَطْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَعَرَّفْتُهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ عَرَّفْتُهَا سَنَةً قَالَ عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً أُخْرَى فَعَرَّفْتُهَا سَنَةً أُخْرَى ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فَقَالَ أَحْصِ عَدَدَهَاووِكَاءَهَا وَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا  

While I as in the company of Salman bin Rabiʿa and Suhan, in one of the holy battles, I found a whip. One of them told me to drop it but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Medina, I asked Ubai bin Kaʿb about it. He said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dinars in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and took it to the Prophet ﷺ who said to me, 'Make public announcement about it for one year.' So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet ﷺ who said, 'Announce it publicly for another year.' So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he said, "Announce for an other year." So I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet ﷺ for the fourth time, and he said, 'Remember the amount of money, the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and if the owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.' " (Using translation from Bukhārī 2437)   

أَحْسَنْتَ وَجَدْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ بِهَا فَقَالَ «عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلًا» فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ إِلَى الْحَوْلِ الثَّانِي فَقَالَ «عَرِّفْهَا» فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ «عَرِّفْهَا» فَعَرَّفْتُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ الثَّالِثَ فَقَالَ «اعْلَمْ عِدَّتَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُ بِعَدَدِهَا وَوِعَائِهَا وَوِكَائِهَا فَأَعْطِهَا إِيَّاهُ وَإِلَّا فَاسْتَنْفِعْ بِهَا»  

[Machine] You did well. You did well. Indeed, I found a pouch containing a hundred dinars during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So, I went to the Prophet ﷺ and he said, "Describe it in detail." So, I described it in detail. Then, I went to him again and he said, "Describe it in detail." So, I described it in detail. Then, I went to him again and he said, "Describe it in detail." So, I described it in detail. Then, after some time, I brought it to him. He said, "Tell me its number, contents, and container. If anyone comes and informs you about its number and contents, then give it to him. Otherwise, you may keep it."  

أَحْسَنْتَ أَحْسَنْتَ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلًا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلًا فَعَرَّفْتُهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلًا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ بِهَا بَعْدَ أَحْوَالٍ ثَلَاثَةٍ فَقَالَ اعْرِفْ عَدَدَهَا وَوِكَاءَهَا وَوِعَاءَهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُكَ بِعَدَدِهَا وَوِكَائِهَا فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَيْهِ وَإِلَّا فَاسْتَمْتِعْ بِهَا  

"عَنْ أُبِّى بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: وَجَدْتُ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِىِّ ﷺ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ فَذَكرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ: عَرِّفْهَا حَوْلًا فَعَرَّفتُهَا فَلَمْ أَجَدْ مَنْ يَعْرِفُهَا، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّى قَدْ عَرَّفْتُهَا، قَالَ: فَعَرِّفْهَا ثَلاَثَةَ أَحْوَالٍ، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بَعْدَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَحْوَالٍ فَقَالَ: احْفَظْ عَدَدَهَا، وَوِكَاءَهَا، وَوِعَاءَهَا، فَإِنْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ يُخْبِرُكَ بَعَدَدِهَا، وَوِعَائها فَادفَعْهَا إِلَيْهِ، وَإِلاَّ فَاسْتَمْتِع بِهَا فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ بِهَا".