Chapter on Judgment by Lot
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 1|Chapter 37
رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: أَوَّلُ مَنْ سُوهِمَ عَلَيْهِ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: وَ مٰا كُنْتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ يُلْقُونَ أَقْلاٰمَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ وَ اَلسِّهَامُ سِتَّةٌ ثُمَّ اِسْتَهَمُوا فِي يُونُسَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لَمَّا رَكِبَ مَعَ اَلْقَوْمِ فَوَقَعَتِ اَلسَّفِينَةُ فِي اَللُّجَّةِ فَاسْتَهَمُوا فَوَقَعَ اَلسَّهْمُ عَلَى يُونُسَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ " قَالَ "فَمَضَى يُونُسُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَى صَدْرِ اَلسَّفِينَةِ فَإِذَا اَلْحُوتُ فَاتِحٌ فَاهُ فَرَمَى نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ عِنْدَ عَبْدِ اَلْمُطَّلِبِ تِسْعَةُ بَنِينَ فَنَذَرَ فِي اَلْعَاشِرِ إِنْ رَزَقَهُ اَللَّهُ غُلاَماً أَنْ يَذْبَحَهُ، فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَذْبَحَهُ وَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فِي صُلْبِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعَشْرٍ مِنَ اَلْإِبِلِ فَسَاهَمَ عَلَيْهَا وَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ فَخَرَجَتِ اَلسِّهَامُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ فَزَادَ عَشْراً فَلَمْ تَزَلِ اَلسِّهَامُ تَخْرُجُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ وَ يَزِيدُ عَشْراً فَلَمَّا أَنْ خَرَجَتْ مِائَةٌ خَرَجَتِ اَلسِّهَامُ عَلَى اَلْإِبِلِ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اَلْمُطَّلِبِ مَا أَنْصَفْتُ رَبِّي فَأَعَادَ اَلسِّهَامَ ثَلاَثاً فَخَرَجَتْ عَلَى اَلْإِبِلِ فَقَالَ اَلْآنَ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ رَبِّي قَدْ رَضِيَ فَنَحَرَهَا ".
Narrated by Hammad ibn Isa, from someone who informed him, from Hariz, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: "The first person upon whom casting lots (Qur'ah) was performed was Maryam (Mary), the daughter of Imran. This is based on the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: 'And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Maryam.' (Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:44). The lots were six in number. Then they cast lots for Yunus عليه السلام (Jonah عليه السلام) when he sailed with a group of people. When the ship was caught in turbulence, they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Yunus three times." Imam عليه السلام continued: "Yunus عليه السلام proceeded to the edge of the ship, and there was the whale with its mouth wide open. So he threw himself in. Similarly, when Abdul Muttalib عليه السلام had nine sons, he vowed that if Allah سبحانه وتعالى granted him a tenth son, he would sacrifice him. When Abdullah عليه السلام was born, he could not bear to sacrifice him, as the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) was in his lineage. So Abdul Muttalib عليه السلام brought ten camels and cast lots between them and Abdullah عليه السلام. The lot fell on Abdullah عليه السلام. He added ten more camels and repeated the process. The lot continued to fall on Abdullah عليه السلام, and he kept increasing the camels by ten each time. Finally, when the number of camels reached one hundred, the lot fell on the camels. Abdul Muttalib عليه السلام then said: 'I have not yet done justice to my Lord عز وجل,' and repeated the lot three more times. When it fell on the camels each time, he said: 'Now I know my Lord عز وجل is satisfied.' So he sacrificed the camels."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ اَلْحَكِيمِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا اَلْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ لِي "كُلُّ مَجْهُولٍ فَفِيهِ اَلْقُرْعَةُ" فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ اَلْقُرْعَةَ تُخْطِئُ وَ تُصِيبُ فَقَالَ "كُلُّ مَا حَكَمَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُخْطِئٍ".
Narrated by Muhammad ibn al-Hakim: "I asked Abu al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام about a matter. Imam عليه السلام said to me: 'For every unknown matter, the solution lies in casting lots (Qur'ah).' I said: 'But casting lots can be right or wrong.' Imam عليه السلام replied: 'Whatever Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, decrees is never wrong.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 193
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مَا تَقَارَعَ قَوْمٌ فَفَوَّضُوا أَمْرَهُمْ إِلَى اَللَّهِ تَعَالَى إِلاَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُ اَلْمُحِقِّ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "No group of people cast lots (Qur'ah) and entrusted their matter to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, except that the lot would favor the one who is rightful."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "أَيُّ قَضِيَّةٍ أَعْدَلُ مِنَ اَلْقُرْعَةِ إِذَا فُوِّضَ اَلْأَمْرُ إِلَى اَللَّهِ أَ لَيْسَ اَللَّهُ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: فَسٰاهَمَ فَكٰانَ مِنَ اَلْمُدْحَضِينَ ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "What judgment is more just than the casting of lots (Qur'ah) when the matter is entrusted to Allah سبحانه وتعالى? Does not Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, say: 'So they cast lots, and he was among the losers'?" (Surah As-Saffat 37:141)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَكَمُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِذَا وَطِئَ رَجُلاَنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٌ جَارِيَةً فِي طُهْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَوَلَدَتْ فَادَّعَوْهُ جَمِيعاً أَقْرَعَ اَلْوَالِي بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنْ قَرَعَ كَانَ اَلْوَلَدُ وَلَدَهُ وَ يَرُدُّ قِيمَةَ اَلْوَلَدِ عَلَى صَاحِبِ اَلْجَارِيَةِ" قَالَ "فَإِنِ اِشْتَرَى رَجُلٌ جَارِيَةً فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَاسْتَحَقَّهَا وَ قَدْ وَلَدَتْ مِنَ اَلْمُشْتَرِي رَدَّ اَلْجَارِيَةَ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدُهَا بِقِيمَتِهِ".
Al-Hakam ibn Miskin narrated from Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar, who said that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "If two or three men have intercourse with a bondwoman during the same period of purity, and she gives birth, and all of them claim the child, the ruler should draw lots among them. Whomever the lot falls upon, the child is his, and he must pay the value of the child to the owner of the bondwoman." Imam عليه السلام further said: "If a man buys a bondwoman, and another man comes and claims her rightfully, and she has already given birth to a child by the buyer, the bondwoman is returned to the rightful owner, while the child belongs to the buyer, but he must pay its value."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى زُرْعَةُ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِنَّ رَجُلَيْنِ اِخْتَصَمَا إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي دَابَّةٍ فَزَعَمَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا أَنَّهَا نُتِجَتْ عَلَى مِذْوَدِهِ وَ أَقَامَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بَيِّنَةً سَوَاءً فِي اَلْعَدَدِ فَأَقْرَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا سَهْمَيْنِ فَعَلَّمَ اَلسَّهْمَيْنِ عَلَى كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا بِعَلاَمَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ " اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ اَلسَّمَاوَاتِ اَلسَّبْعِ وَ رَبَّ اَلْأَرَضِينَ اَلسَّبْعِ وَ رَبَّ اَلْعَرْشِ اَلْعَظِيمِ عَالِمَ اَلْغَيْبِ وَ اَلشَّهَادَةِ اَلرَّحْمَنَ اَلرَّحِيمَ أَيُّهُمَا كَانَ صَاحِبَ اَلدَّابَّةِ وَ هُوَ أَوْلَى بِهَا فَأَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُخْرِجَ سَهْمَهُ " فَخَرَجَ سَهْمُ أَحَدِهِمَا فَقَضَى لَهُ بِهَا".
Zur'ah narrated from Sama'ah, who said that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "Two men disputed before Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام over a beast, each claiming that it was born in his stable. Both presented equal evidence in number. So, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام drew lots between them. He marked the two lots with distinct signs for each claimant, and then said: 'O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Lord عز وجل of the seven heavens and the seven earths, and Lord عز وجل of the Great Throne, Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate-whichever of these two is the rightful owner of the beast and has the stronger claim to it, I ask You to bring forth his lot.' Then the lot of one of them was drawn, and Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام ruled in his favor."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 193
وَ رَوَى اَلْبَزَنْطِيُّ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سِرْحَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلَيْنِ شَهِدَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ فِي أَمْرٍ وَ جَاءَ آخَرَانِ فَشَهِدَا عَلَى غَيْرِ اَلَّذِي شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ اَلْأَوَّلاَنِ قَالَ "يُقْرَعُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَأَيُّهُمْ قَرَعَ فَعَلَيْهِ اَلْيَمِينُ وَ هُوَ أَوْلَى بِالْقَضَاءِ".
Al-Bazanti narrated from Dawood ibn Sirhan, who said that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "In the case of two men who testified against another man regarding a matter, and then two others came and testified to something different from what the first two had testified-lots are drawn between them. Whichever group's lot is drawn, they shall take an oath, and their testimony will have precedence in judgment."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ قَالَ أَوَّلُ مَمْلُوكٍ أَمْلِكُهُ فَهُوَ حُرٌّ فَوَرِثَ سَبْعَةً جَمِيعاً قَالَ "يُقْرِعُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ يُعْتِقُ اَلَّذِي خَرَجَ سَهْمُهُ".
Hammad ibn Uthman narrated from Ubaydullah ibn Ali al-Halabi, who said that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "If a man says, 'The first slave I acquire shall be free,' and then he inherits seven slaves altogether, lots are drawn among them, and the one whose lot is drawn shall be freed."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 193
وَ رَوَى حَرِيزٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَكُونُ لَهُ اَلْمَمْلُوكُونَ فَيُوصِي بِعِتْقِ ثُلُثِهِمْ قَالَ "كَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يُسْهِمُ بَيْنَهُمْ".
Hariz narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, who said: "I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام about a man who has slaves and wills to free one-third of them. Imam عليه السلام said: 'Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام used to draw lots among them.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى مُوسَى بْنُ اَلْقَاسِمِ اَلْبَجَلِيُّ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ اَلْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اَلرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "كَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِذَا أَتَاهُ رَجُلاَنِ يَخْتَصِمَانِ بِشُهُودٍ عِدَّتُهُمْ سَوَاءٌ وَ عَدَالَتُهُمْ سَوَاءٌ أَقْرَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا عَلَى أَيِّهِمَا تَصِيرُ اَلْيَمِينُ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ " اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ اَلسَّمَاوَاتِ اَلسَّبْعِ وَ رَبَّ اَلْأَرَضِينَ اَلسَّبْعِ مَنْ كَانَ اَلْحَقُّ لَهُ فَأَدِّهِ إِلَيْهِ " ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُ اَلْحَقَّ لِلَّذِي تَصِيرُ اَلْيَمِينُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا حَلَفَ".
Musa ibn al-Qasim al-Bajali and Ali ibn al-Hakam narrated from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdillah, who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: "'Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام, whenever two men came to him disputing with an equal number of witnesses of equal integrity, would draw lots between them to determine upon whom the oath would fall. Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام would say: O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Lord عز وجل of the seven heavens and Lord عز وجل of the seven earths, grant the right to the one it belongs to. After that, he would assign the right to the one upon whom the oath was placed if he took the oath.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 193
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَوْلُودٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَا لِلرِّجَالِ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَا لِلنِّسَاءِ قَالَ "هَذَا يُقْرِعُ عَلَيْهِ اَلْإِمَامُ يَكْتُبُ عَلَى سَهْمٍ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ وَ عَلَى سَهْمٍ آخَرَ أَمَةُ اَللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اَلْإِمَامُ أَوِ اَلْمُقْرِعُ اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ اَللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ "عٰالِمَ اَلْغَيْبِ وَ اَلشَّهٰادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبٰادِكَ فِي مٰا كٰانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ" بَيِّنْ لَنَا أَمْرَ هَذَا اَلْمَوْلُودِ حَتَّى يُوَرَّثَ مَا فَرَضْتَ لَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ ثُمَّ يَطْرَحُ اَلسَّهْمَيْنِ فِي سِهَامٍ مُبْهَمَةٍ ثُمَّ تُجَالُ فَأَيُّهُمَا خَرَجَ وُرِّثَ عَلَيْهِ".
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Jamil, from Fudhayl ibn Yasar, who said: "I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام about a newborn who has neither the features of males nor the features of females. Imam عليه السلام said: 'The Imam draws lots for this case. He writes on one lot "Abdullah" (servant of Allah سبحانه وتعالى) and on another lot "Amatullah" (maidservant of Allah سبحانه وتعالى). Then the Imam or the one drawing the lot says: 'O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, You are Allah سبحانه وتعالى, there is no god but You, Knower of the unseen and the seen. You judge among Your servants concerning that in which they differ. Make clear to us the matter of this newborn so that he may inherit what You have ordained for him in Your Book.' Then he (the Imam) places the two lots into other unspecified lots, and they are mixed. Whichever lot is drawn, the inheritance is based on it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 193
وَ رَوَى عَاصِمُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَى اَلْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ حِينَ قَدِمَ "حَدِّثْنِي بِأَعْجَبِ مَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْكَ" قَالَ "يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ أَتَانِي قَوْمٌ قَدْ تَبَايَعُوا جَارِيَةً فَوَطِئُوهَا جَمِيعاً فِي طُهْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَوَلَدَتْ غُلاَماً فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ كُلُّهُمْ يَدَّعِي فِيهِ فَأَسْهَمْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَجَعَلْتُهُ لِلَّذِي خَرَجَ سَهْمُهُ وَ ضَمَّنْتُهُ نَصِيبَهُمْ" فَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "لَيْسَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ تَقَارَعُوا وَ فَوَّضُوا أَمْرَهُمْ إِلَى اَللَّهِ إِلاَّ خَرَجَ سَهْمُ اَلْمُحِقِّ" ".
Asim ibn Humayd narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) sent Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام to Yemen. When he returned, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said to him, 'Tell me about the most astonishing case that came to you.' Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: 'O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, a group of people came to me who had jointly purchased a bondwoman. They all had relations with her during the same period of purity, and she gave birth to a boy. They disputed over him, with each claiming him. I drew lots among them, assigning the child to the one whose lot was drawn, and I made him liable for the shares of the others.' The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'Whenever a group draws lots and entrusts their matter to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the rightful one's lot will come forth.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh