fodder, firewood, and the Imam's oversight in this matter does not indicate that his permission is a prerequisite. Do you not see that if someone stops at a watering place, the Imam requires him to take what he needs and depart, and this does not require his permission? As for the wealth of the Public Treasury (Bayt al-Mal), it is owned by the Muslims, and the Imam has the authority to arrange its expenditures, so it requires his permission, unlike our issue here; for this is permissible, so whoever arrives at it first is the most entitled of people to it, just like grass, firewood, game, and permissible fruits in the mountains.

Section: As for what one arrives at first, it is barren land (mawat); if he arrives at it first and marks its boundaries, he becomes the most entitled to it. And if he arrives at an [ancient well, and begins to cultivate it, he is the most entitled to it. And whoever arrives first at] seats in marketplaces and roads, or watering places, visible or hidden minerals, and everything that is permissible such as grass, firewood, fruits taken from the mountains, what people cast away out of lack of desire for it, or what is lost by them of that which the soul does not attach itself to, lost property (luqata), foundlings (laqit), what falls from snow, and all other permissible things, whoever arrives at any of this first is the most entitled to it, and he does not need the permission of the Imam, nor the permission of anyone else; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Whoever arrives first at that which no Muslim has arrived at before, he is more entitled to it" (5).