The Second Section: Regarding the amount of the announcement, and that is [for] a year. This has been narrated from Umar, Ali, and Ibn Abbas. Ibn al-Musayyab, al-Sha'bi, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and the scholars of reason (Ashab al-Ra'y) held this view. Another narration was reported from Umar that one should announce it for three months, and another [narration] states three years, because Ubayy ibn Ka'b narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded him to announce one hundred dinars for three years. Abu Ayyub al-Hashimi said: What is less than fifty dirhams should be announced for three to seven days. Al-Hasan ibn Salih said: What is less than ten dirhams should be announced for three days. Al-Thawri said regarding a dirham: One should announce it for four days. Ishaq said: What is less than a dinar should be announced for a week or thereabouts. Abu Ishaq al-Jawzajani narrated with his chain of transmission from Ya'la ibn Umayya, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever finds a dirham, a rope, or the like, let him announce it for three days. If it is more than that, let him announce it for seven days." (6)

Our position is the authentic hadith of Zayd ibn Khalid, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded him [to announce it] for one year. Furthermore, the year does not pass without the caravans traveling in it, and during it the time passes in which lands are visited, including times of heat, cold, and moderation; thus it is appropriate as a duration, similar to the term of the impotent man (al-'innin). (7) As for the hadith of Ubayy, the narrator said: I do not know whether it is three years or one year. Abu Dawud said: The narrator was uncertain about that. The hadith of Ya'la has not been held by any scholar in its literal sense, and the hadith of Zayd and Ubayy is more authentic and worthier. Once this is established, this year must follow the finding [of the item] and must be consecutive in itself, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded its announcement when he was asked about it, and a command implies immediate action. Also, the intent behind the announcement is for the news to reach its owner, and that is achieved by announcing it consecutively after it is lost, for the owner usually expects it and searches for it immediately after it is lost; thus, the announcement must be restricted to that period.