Lost Things Picked up by Someone (Luqatah) - Sahih al-Bukhari 2432

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Sometimes when I return home and find a date fallen on my bed, I pick it up in order to eat it, but I fear that it might be from a Sadaqa, so I throw it."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith demonstrates the Prophet's meticulous caution regarding matters of purity and religious permissibility. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), despite his infallible status in receiving revelation, exercised extreme vigilance in his personal conduct.

The date found on his bed represents a luqatah (lost property), but his primary concern was whether it constituted sadaqa (charity) which is forbidden for him and his household. This reflects the Islamic legal principle of exercising caution when the ruling is uncertain (ihtiyat).

Scholars derive from this that when there is doubt about whether something is permissible or forbidden, one should lean toward avoidance. The Prophet's action teaches us to prioritize spiritual purity over worldly benefit, even in minor matters like a single date.

This hadith also illustrates the Prophet's humility and scrupulousness (wara'), showing that even the leader of the Muslim community must be cautious about consuming what might be charitable offerings meant specifically for the poor.