Book of Found Objects

1701 — Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us, saying: Shu'bah informed us, from Salamah ibn Kuhayl, from Suwayd ibn Ghafalah, who said: I went on a military expedition with Zayd ibn Suhan and Salman ibn Rabi'ah, and I found a whip. They said to me: "Throw it away." I said: "No, but if I find its owner [I will return it], otherwise I will make use of it." Then I performed the pilgrimage, and I passed by Madinah, where I asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b. He said: "I found a purse containing one hundred dinars, so I came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said: 'Announce it for a year.' So I announced it for a year. Then I came to him, and he said: 'Announce it for a year.' So I announced it for a year. Then I came to him, and he said: 'Announce it for a year.' So I announced it for a year. Then I came to him and said: 'I have not found anyone who recognizes it.' He said: 'Preserve its number, its tie, and its container, for if its owner comes [return it], otherwise make use of it.'" He [Salamah] said: I do not know whether he said "announce it" three times or once.

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(1) Its chain of transmission is authentic, except that Salamah ibn Kuhayl erred in mentioning the announcement for three years, as will follow.
Al-Bukhari (2426) and (2437), Muslim (1723), and al-Nasa'i in al-Kubra (5791–5793) all narrated it through various routes from Shu'bah, with this chain.
Muslim (1723), Ibn Majah (2506), al-Tirmidhi (1426), and al-Nasa'i (5789), (5790), and (5794) narrated it through various routes from Salamah ibn Kuhayl, with it.
It is in Musnad Ahmad (21166–21170) and Sahih Ibn Hibban (4892).
Shu'bah said in the narration of al-Bukhari (2426): I met him after Makkah, and he said: I do not know whether it was three years or one year. And Shu'bah said in the narration of Muslim (1723)(9) and al-Nasa'i (5792): I heard him after ten years saying: "Announce it for one year." =