What must I do after having given 50 dirhams in charity—which I found in front of a building—with the intention of giving it on behalf of its owner, then learned the Shar’i ruling concerning a found item (Luqatah) is the obligation to announce it for a year?

Lost property (Luqata) is of two types:

1. That which has little value, such that it is permissible to take and benefit from it without announcing it (defining it), like a whip, a rope, or a loaf of bread. 2. That which has significant value, which must be announced (defined) for a full year. If its owner comes and describes it, it should be handed over to them. If the owner does not appear after the announcement, it is permissible to benefit from it on the condition that it is guaranteed to its owner whenever they appear. If it perishes, a similar item or its value must be paid.

Therefore, the amount should have been announced (defined). It must now be announced for a year. If its owner comes and describes it, they are given the choice: either to approve of it being given as charity, in which case the reward is theirs, or to have the fifty dirhams paid to them, and the reward for the charity goes to the finder. If they insist on having their money back, they have that right. If they approve, the reward for the charity is theirs.