Is privately mentioning found property to a few people sufficient?
2026-10-14
T215 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Original Q&A · Complete source question and answer
Complete original question and answer, 30/412. Public notice is required while identifying details are not fully disclosed.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
وسئل عن رجل وجد لقطة وعرف بها بعض الناس بينه وبينه سرا أياما، ولها عنده مدة سنين. فما الحكم فيها ؟
الجواب
الحمد لله، لا يحل له مثل هذا التعريف، بل عليه أن يعرفها تعريفا ظاهرا، لكن على وجه مجمل، بأن يقول: من ضاع له نفقة، أو نحو ذلك. والله أعلم.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
He was asked about a man who found lost property and privately mentioned it to some people for a few days. It has remained with him for years. What is the ruling?
Answer
Praise be to Allah. Such an announcement is not lawful for him. He must announce it publicly, but in general terms, saying, for example: “Who has lost money for expenses?” or something similar. Allah knows best.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 30/412
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic checked against the cited source and adjacent question boundaries. Diacritics and display marks omitted; honorific glyphs expanded. Titles and scope notes are editorial.