Sahih Muslim Book - 31, Hadith - 4499

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ وَقُتَيْبَةُ وَابْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالَ ابْنُ حُجْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ - وَهْوَ ابْنُ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ يَزِيدَ مَوْلَى الْمُنْبَعِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْجُهَنِىِّ أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ « عَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ اعْرِفْ وِكَاءَهَا وَعِفَاصَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَنْفِقْ بِهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ رَبُّهَا فَأَدِّهَا إِلَيْهِ ». فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الْغَنَمِ قَالَ « خُذْهَا فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ لَكَ أَوْ لأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ ». فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَضَالَّةُ الإِبِلِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حَتَّى احْمَرَّتْ وَجْنَتَاهُ - أَوِ احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ - ثُمَّ قَالَ « مَا لَكَ وَلَهَا مَعَهَا حِذَاؤُهَا وَسِقَاؤُهَا حَتَّى يَلْقَاهَا رَبُّهَا ».

It was narrated from Zaid bin Khalid Al-Juhani that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) about picking up lost items. He (s.a.w) said: "Announce it for one year, then memorize the features of its strap and bag, then spend from it. Then if its owner comes, pay him back." He said: O Messenger of Allah, what about a lost sheep? He(s.a.w) said: "Take it, for it will be either for you, for your brother or for the wolf." He said: o Messenger of Allah, what about a lost camel? He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) became so angry that his cheeks turned red - or his face turned red - and he (s.a.w) said: "What have you to do with it? It has its feet and its water supply until its owner finds it."