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Is it permissible to dig for a Pharaonic treasure located beneath relatives' homes, especially with the presence of a spiritual connection to what is called "the guardian" next to the treasure, and if permissible, what is the legitimate way to extract the treasure?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If someone finds a treasure in their home with signs indicating it was buried during the جاهلية (pre-Islamic era), they are most entitled to it. However, they are obligated to donate one-fifth of it, which should be spent on public Muslim interests such as schools and hospitals, or given to the poor and needy. If the treasure bears signs indicating it belongs to Muslims, then it is a lost-and-found item (لقطة) that must be announced for a year.

The reality of the spiritual communication mentioned, the relationship between the homeowner and the jinn, and whether the jinn were enchanted to guard the treasure, is unknown. It is permissible to excavate the treasure by digging, as long as sorcerers and charlatans are not resorted to.

If the treasure includes statues of animate beings, their sale is forbidden unless their facial features are obliterated or their heads are severed.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy