Q 3: Two years ago, I found a sheep in the desert. No one lives close to me except one neighbor. I informed him and my relatives about the sheep. Later the sheep produced four lambs so now I have 5 sheep. What should I do in this matter?

A: It is permissible to keep any sheep that has gone astray and cannot defend itself against beasts of prey. (Part No. 15; Page No. 469) When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about the sheep that goes astray, he said, It is either for you or for your brother, or for the wolf. Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Zayd ibn Khalid Al-Juhany (may Allah be pleased with him). If a person finds a lost sheep, he has more than one option; he may either eat its meat or keep it till its owner comes or sell it and save its price till the owner comes. However, the best option is to keep it till its owner comes. If he chooses to eat its meat or sell it, he has to know how to describe it and make public announcements about it for one year. Later on, if its owner comes, he should be given its price if it has been sold and its value if it has been eaten. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, He who finds a lost item and does not make a public announcement is mistaken. Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also says about the Luqatah (a lost item found by someone other than its owner), Make public announcement (about it) for one year. If nobody claims it, it becomes yours, but, if its owner appears, hand it over to him. Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. If you have not made a public announcement about this sheep for one year, you have to give its value and the value of its offspring in charity on behalf of its owner because you did not follow the order of Shari`ah, which is to make a public announcement about it for one year. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.