in the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Messenger. They merely argue that a person has four sides, and that one says, ‘I saw the person,’ upon seeing just one of those four sides; thus, one-quarter is treated as equivalent to the whole. One-third, however, has a basis in several passages of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The authentic Sunnah and the agreement of the Muslims establish that a sick person may bequeath one-third of his wealth, but no more, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, instructed Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqās when he visited him during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Likewise, an authentic hadith relates that a man freed six slaves belonging to him at the time of his death. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, divided them into three groups, freed two, and kept four enslaved. It is also reported that he told Abū Lubāba, ‘One-third suffices for you.’ There are other such examples. How, then, can the two be compared?”

The people of Medina accept the ruling contained in this hadith. Drawing lots is supported by a verse in the Book of Allah and six hadiths from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, including this hadith.

Another is his saying:

“If people knew what reward there is in the call to prayer and the first row, and could find no way other than drawing lots for it.”

Another relates:

“When he intended to travel, he would draw lots among his wives, and whichever wife’s lot was drawn, he would take her along with him.”

Another relates that the Ansār would draw lots over the Emigrants when they migrated to them. Another concerns the two rival claimants whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered to draw lots to determine who should take the oath, whether they wished to or not. Another concerns “the two who