Lost Property in the Sacred Places
Question:
A person found a watch in the Sacred City of Makkah and it has been with him now for over four years. What is the solution regarding it? Should we return it to the Sacred City again, or give its value in charity to one of the poor, having established its worth with the watch sellers? May Allaah reward you with the greatest goodness.
Answer:
It is not permissible to take lost property in the Sacred Places, except for one who intends to announce it, according to the saying of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam):
"It is not permissible (to take) the things which are dropped therein, except to (them)." (Al-Bukhari No.2434 and Muslim No.1355)
So it is incumbent upin this person to submit the lost property to the High Court in Makkah so that it may be forwarded to the Commitee Responsible for Lost Property in the Sacred City. Having done that and turned in repentence to Allaah, Most Glorified for his nelgect - since he did not previously announce it - he will be free of blame. And through Allaah is obtained success.
Source :
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, volume 5 / page 26 - 27
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