What is the legal status of a lost item if the finder fails to announce it for one full year?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Lost-and-Found Property
Primary text
If the lost item is not announced for one year, the finder owns it and it becomes part of their wealth, regardless of whether the finder is rich or poor. This view is supported by narrations from Umar, Ibn Mas'ud, and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them), and it is the position of 'Atta, Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Mundhir. Furthermore, narrations attributing this to Ali, Ibn Abbas, Al-Sha'bi, Al-Nakha'i, Tawus, and 'Ikrimah support this view.
Supporting text
Malik, Al-Hasan ibn Salih, Al-Thawri, and the People of Opinion dictate that the finder must give it away as charity. If the owner appears later, the owner is given the choice between accepting the reward (thawab) or claiming compensation (ghurm). This is based on the narration from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded announcing the lost item for one year, or three years according to another narration, and if the owner does not appear, it is given as charity; if the owner then appears and agrees to the reward, otherwise the finder must compensate for it.