English translation
2437. Narrated Suwaid bin Ghafala: While I was in the company of Salmān bin Rabī'a and Zaid bin Sūhān, in one of the holy battles, I found a whip. One of them told me to drop it, but I refused to do so and said that I would give it to its owner if I found him, otherwise I would utilize it. On our return we performed Hajj and on passing by Al-Madīna, I asked Ubaī bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه about it. He said, "I found a bag containing a hundred Dīnār in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ and took it to the Prophet ﷺ who said to me, 'Make public announcement about it for one year.' So, I announced it for one year and went to the Prophet ﷺ who said, 'Announce it publicly for another year.' So, I announced it for another year. I went to him again and he said, "Announce for another year." So I announced for still another year. I went to the Prophet ﷺ for the fourth time, and he said, 'Remember the amount of money, the description of its container and the string it is tied with, and if its owner comes, give it to him; otherwise, utilize it.'" Salama narrated the above narration from Ubaī bin Ka'b, adding, "I met the subnarrator at Makkah later on, but he did not remember whether Ka'b had announced what he had found for one year or three years."