Al-luqatah (Lost and found property) in Islamic law

Our study consists of an introduction, three sections and a conclusion. One and the second sections, the description and parts of the property found, and the description and types of property, and the means to possess a property are mentioned. A property must be mutaqawwim (valuable), movable and owned in order for it to be considered as al-luqatah. It is also mentioned that it may be mithli (fungible) and qimi (non-fungible) in terms of payment. It is subjected to the distinction of consumable and usable in terms of its effect on announcement. The description and the nature of the found good, and its iltiqat (picking up the found good) and multaqit (the person picking up the found good) which are its rukns (constituent elements) are addressed. It is mentioned that in case of the fact that the found good may get lost if not picked up, picking up that good is fard (religious duty) and if there is no risk of getting lost, iltikat, i.e. picking up, is mubah (permissible). Furthermore, the legal character, duties, rights etc. of the multaqit is addressed. What the person, picking up the found good, should do, in what circumstances the good is deemed under trust, in what circumstances it is deemed as robbery and should be compensated are mentioned. In the third section, the transactions which can be done in the event that the owner does not claim the al-luqatah (found good), the third rukn, in the appropriate time period, and the practice of al-luqatah in some institutions today are addressed. The classic resources of the four sects of Islam are benefitted, however, mainly the Hanafi sect is included. Key words: Islamic Law, property, iltiqat (picking up the found good), multaqit (the person picking up the found good), al-luqatah (the found good) 2018, 118 Pages