Chapter on Lost Property and Stray Animals
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 2|Chapter 30
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ اَلْحِمْيَرِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي كِتَابٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اِشْتَرَى جَزُوراً أَوْ بَقَرَةً أَوْ شَاةً أَوْ غَيْرَهَا لِلْأَضَاحِيِّ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا فَلَمَّا ذَبَحَهَا وَجَدَ فِي جَوْفِهَا صُرَّةً فِيهَا دَرَاهِمُ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ جَوَاهِرُ أَوْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اَلْمَنَافِعِ لِمَنْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ وَ كَيْفَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "عَرِّفْهَا اَلْبَائِعَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْهَا فَالشَّيْءُ لَكَ رَزَقَكَ اَللَّهُ إِيَّاهُ".
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Himyari, who said: I wrote to Imam عليه السلام asking about a man who bought a camel, a cow, a sheep, or any other animal, whether for sacrifice or otherwise. After slaughtering it, he found a pouch inside it containing dirhams, dinars, jewels, or other valuable items. To whom does it belong, and what should he do with it? Imam عليه السلام wrote in response: "Inform the seller about it. If he does not claim it, then it is yours, Allah سبحانه وتعالى has provided it for you."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 248