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What to Do If You Find Something in a Public Place and There’s No Information About the Owner?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Darulifta-Deoband.com
If I happen to find something (e.g.mobile/purse/watch) in a public place and there is nothing mentioned about the owner on thing so found (as in case of a watch), what should i do with it? In case if I have already taken it what should I do now?

Answer

(Fatwa: 1010/1010/M=1432)

In the term of Shariah, such thing is called ‘luqta’. It is a trust with you. Having it in your possession, keep on announcing and propagating about it on different places and search for its owner as much as possible. When you are hopeless that you will not get its owner then give it is charity to any poor on behalf of its owner.
وعرف اى نادى عليها حيث وجدها وفي المجامع إلى أن علم أن صاحبها لا يطلبها …. فينتفع الرافع بها لو فقيراً وإلا تصدق بها على فقير الخ (شامى زكريا 6/435)

Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best

Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband

This answer was collected from the official ifta website of Darul Uloom Deoband in India.

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