Taking fishing equipment left behind by others for oneself
Question
If a person finds any fishing equipment like sinkers etc. on the rocks by the ocean, are you allowed to take it in your possession?
Usually these sinkers etc. are left deliberately by other fisherman as they do not want it anymore.
Answer
This is regarded as luqta (lost and found property). If the item has value and the owner may look for it, then one should not take it for himself. Rather he should look for the owner.
If one cannot find the owner, then if he is a wealthy person, then he should give it to a poor person on behalf of the owner.
If one is poor, then he can keep it and use it.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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