Fatwa #410899 September 2018Pakistan
Lost items found in deep ocean
Question
As a deep diver for leisure, I come across many valuable items deep in the water like watches, jewelry etc. Am I allowed to keep what I find?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The Islamic rulings for lost things will apply to these valuable items. You will exhaust all reasonable means to locate the owners until you strongly feel the owners are no longer searching for the items. Thereafter, you should donate these items to the poor and needy.[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Tahmid Chowdhury
Student Darul Iftaa
New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
الأشباه والنظائر ٢/٢٨٠ مكتبة نزار مصطفى الباز
سمكة في سمكة فإن كانت صحيحة حلتا وإلا لا ؛ لأنها مستقذرة ، وإن وجد فيها درة ملكها حلالا ، وإن وجد خاتما أو دينارا مضروبا لا ، وهو لقطة ، له أن يصرفها على نفسه بعد التعريف إن كان محتاجا