Is it permissible to divide the participants into two groups by drawing lots (al-qur'ah)?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Racing and Archery

Book 58 · Issue 3 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

It is not permissible to divide the participants into two groups by drawing lots. This is because drawing lots might result in placing the most skilled archers in one group and the less skilled in the other, thereby nullifying the purpose of the contest which is to ascertain true skill.