136. Lot
It was the custom of Arabs to draw lots before the idols, whom they assumed as God.
They would write ‘do’ in one arrow and in another arrow they would write ‘do not do’. They would pick any one of those two arrows blindly, and then they would act accordingly, assuming that what had been written in that arrow which they picked was the command of God.
That is what has been banned here (5:3, 5:90). It should not be assumed that divining by arrows was only prohibited. All deeds carried out on such basis have been banned for Muslims.
A superstition known as 'Falkithab' which is found among Muslims also would come under this prohibition.
It is basically wrong to empower the authority to the things created by the human beings for commanding the human beings.
It would be fabrication attributed on God, if we drew a lot blindly.
Another aspect implied here is that we have the power to know what Allah has hidden.
At times we would decide certain things by drawing lots. We should not correlate these two and be confused. Because when we have to choose between two persons and if both of them are in equal position, we then draw lot and choose one of the two. It is an arrangement made so that any of the two (who was not chosen) may withdraw without dislike.
So, since drawing lots, 'Falkithab' etc. , are treated as means for knowing Allah's desire, they are banned but when we select one person between two persons who are in equal status there is no such superstition present in it.
There is of course sanction for only one thing that is to entreat as “Allah, if this deed would be beneficial make me do the same otherwise turn my attention away from that deed” by praying a special prayer known as ‘Isthiqara’, if there occurred any anxiety in deciding which is right and which is wrong, while carrying out a deed. (Refer: Bukhari 1166, 6382, 7390)
136. Lot
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