What is the prescribed method for conducting a draw (Qur'ah)?

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The draw may be conducted using tokens (khawatim) or slips of paper (riqa'at). Ahmad ibn Hanbal stated that whatever method they agree upon, the ruling stands, whether it uses tokens or slips. The preferred method according to later scholars (Ashabuna al-Mutahharun) and the opinion of Al-Shafi'i is to cut small, equal slips, place them in the lap of a person not present, or cover them with a cloth, then instruct that person to draw one token. The outcome based on the drawn token is authoritative.