his wives [if he intends to travel] with one of them, and if he intends to begin division between them, and between guardians if they are equal and contest who [is to oversee the marriage], or who is to oversee the fulfillment of retaliation, and the like of this.
Section: On the method of drawing lots. Ahmad said: Sa'id ibn Jubayr said: They are to draw lots using signet rings. He drew lots between two people regarding a garment, so he took out the ring of this one and the ring of that one, then said: They emerge with the rings, then it is handed to a man who then takes out one of them. Ahmad said: By whatever means they agree upon, the judgment is rendered, whether it be small slips of paper (riqa') or signet rings. Our later scholars said: The best way is to cut small, equal-sized pieces of paper, then they are placed in the lap of a man who was not present, or covered with a garment, then it is said to him: 'Insert your hand and take out a pellet.' Then he unrolls it and knows what is inside it. This is the position of al-Shafi'i. Regarding the method of drawing lots in manumission (itq), there are six issues: First, that he emancipates a number of slaves for whom a third [of his estate] is sufficient, such as three, six, or nine, and their values are equal, and he has no wealth other than them. They are divided into three parts: one part for freedom and two parts for servitude. Three slips are written: one has 'freedom' and two have 'servitude'. They are placed into three pellets and covered with a garment. It is said to a man who was not present: 'Draw for the name of this part.' If the lot for freedom emerges, he is emancipated and the other two parts remain in servitude. If the lot for servitude emerges, he remains in servitude, and another [slip] is drawn for another part. If the lot for freedom emerges, he is emancipated and the third part remains in servitude. If the lot for servitude emerges, he remains in servitude and the third part is emancipated, because freedom became specific to them. If you wish, you may write the name of each part on a slip, then draw a slip for freedom. When you draw a slip [for freedom], those named on it are emancipated and the others remain in servitude. If you draw a slip for servitude, those named on it remain in servitude, then you draw another
(44) Omitted from the original (al-Asl). In A, in the second instance: "oversee the marriage". (45) Omitted from A. (46) Omitted from B. (47) In B and M: "pellet" (bunduqiyya). (48) In M: "he unfolds it" (fayanfiduha). (49) In B and M: "they emerge" (fayakhrujun). (50) In A, B, and M: "it emerged" (kharajat). (51) Omitted from the original and B.
