it were said, for example: The contest is between a man from Banū Tamīm and another man from Banū Ghaṭafān, this would not be valid, because they have not been specified. The archers must be identified, and the arrow must likewise be specified—meaning that the projectile weapon used must be of one type. Nowadays, the differences between types of weapons are well known, so the weapon must be of a single type.

Must the model likewise be the same? This requires consideration: if the models differ in a consequential way, they must be the same; but if they do not differ in that way, this is not a condition. Sometimes they are no different in strength and performance, differing only in appearance. Thus, the projectile weapon must be uniform only where a lack of uniformity would lead to a material difference.

His statement, “and the distance must be customary”: the shooting distance must also be specified. In earlier times, they based the shooting distance on the strength of the archer, because it was an arrow that a person shot; someone who was not strong could not shoot his arrow far. Therefore, the distance must be fixed at a customary measure. They said that its maximum is three hundred cubits—that is, approximately two hundred metres. With respect to the weapons that exist today, this distance is insignificant, but in the past no one would shoot three hundred cubits. In this matter, customary practice is the reference point.

These conditions that have been mentioned apply to the permissibility of taking a prize in a competition. But when there is no prize, the matter is broad. Thus, if one person said to another that he had a fine donkey which no horse could outrun, and the other said: I