Chapter on Lost Property and Stray Animals
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 2|Chapter 30
وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ اَلشَّاةِ اَلضَّالَّةِ بِالْفَلاَةِ فَقَالَ لِلسَّائِلِ هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لِأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ قَالَ "وَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَمَسَّهَا وَ عَنِ اَلْبَعِيرِ اَلضَّالِّ أَيْضاً" قَالَ "مَا لَكَ وَ لَهُ بَطْنُهُ وِعَاؤُهُ وَ خُفُّهُ حِذَاؤُهُ وَ كَرِشُهُ سِقَاؤُهُ خَلِّ عَنْهُ".
Imam عليه السلام was asked about a lost sheep in the wilderness. Imam عليه السلام said to the questioner: "It is either yours, your brother's, or the wolf's." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "I do not like to touch it." And when asked about a lost camel, Imam عليه السلام said: "What do you have to do with it? Its belly is its container, its hooves are its shoes, and its stomach is its water carrier. Leave it alone."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh