Is it permissible for the one who finds treasures buried in another's land to own them, or do they belong to the landowner?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a treasure is found:
Either it has an Islamic mark on it. In this case, it is treated as a lost item (Luqatah) that must be announced for a year. After that period, it belongs to the finder, unless the landowner claims it, in which case it is theirs.
Or it has a pre-Islamic mark on it. In this case, one-fifth of it must be given out and spent on the channels of . Scholars have agreed that it belongs to the finder, unless the landowner claims it, in which case their word is to be accepted.
Or it has no mark on it. In this case, the matter should be presented to the judiciary.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/109731
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 109731
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy