What is the prescribed duration for making public notice (ta'rif) of lost property (luqatah)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Lost-and-Found Property
Primary text
The prescribed duration for announcing lost property is one year. This opinion is held by Umar, Ali, Ibn Abbas, Ibn al-Musayyib, al-Sha'bi, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and the Ashab al-Ra'y (Hanafi jurists). The primary evidence is the sound hadith of Zayd ibn Khalid, wherein the Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded [the finder] to announce it for one year. Furthermore, the year aligns with the expected time for caravans to return and covers the cycle of seasons (heat, cold, and temperate weather), making it a suitable period similar to the term limit set for eye money (diyah). This announcement must commence immediately following the finding and must be continuous (mutawaliyah) because the command implies immediate action (al-fawr), and the objective is to inform the owner promptly while they are likely still searching.
Supporting text
A secondary narration from Umar suggests the duration should be three months. Another narration attributes three years to him, based on the report that the Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded the announcement of one hundred dinars for three years. Abu Ayyub al-Hashimi stated that less than fifty dirhams should be announced for three to seven days. Al-Hasan ibn Salih held that less than ten dirhams requires three days of announcement. Al-Thawri suggested four days for a single dirham. Ishaq stated that less than a dinar requires one week or similar. Ya'la ibn Umayyah narrated a hadith suggesting three days for a dirham or rope, and seven days for anything greater, but this narration is not widely followed in its entirety, whereas the hadith of Zayd ibn Khalid and the other supporting evidence are considered sounder.