I found some lost gold and
sold it, and gave the money in charity. My intention if I find the owner and he does not
like what I did is to give him the value of the gold, because I found it in the middle of
a big city. Is there any sin on me for what I did?

Praise be to Allaah.

What you and anyone else who finds valuable
lost property should do is to announce it for one full year in the places where people
gather, two or three times each month. If it is identified by the owner, then hand it over
to him, otherwise the finder can keep it after one year, because the Prophet
(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave instructions to this effect. An exception is made in
the case of lost property found in Al-Haramayn (Makkah and Madeenah) – the finder
cannot keep it, and it should be announced indefinitely until its owner is found, or the
finder can hand it over to the authorities in charge of the Haramayn so that they can keep
it for the owner, because the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
concerning Makkah, “Property lost in Makkah is not permissible for anyone except its
owner.” And the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I
have made Madeenah sacred just as Ibraaheem made Makkah sacred.” The authenticity of
the Hadeeth is agreed upon.

But if the property is of insignificant value and the owner
will not be bothered about it, such as a rope or shoelace or a small amount of money, then
the finder does not have to announce it, and he can make use of it or give it in charity
on behalf of the owner. This does not apply in the case of lost camels and other animals
that are safe from small predators such as wolves etc.. It is not permissible to keep
these animals, because the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to
the one who asked him about that: “Leave it alone, for it has its feet and its water,
and it can eat the trees until it finds its owner.” (Agreed upon).

And Allaah is the source of strength.