A Discussion of the Narrations

1. On the Contention of the Family of ʿImrān over Mary’s Guardianship and the Decision by Lots

In the exegesis of ʿAlī ibn Abraham, it is reported: When Mary was born, the family of ʿImrān contended over her; each of them said, “We will take guardianship of her.” So they went out and cast lots among themselves, and the lot fell to Zechariah, so he took guardianship of her.(265)

From Ibn ʿAbbās regarding the verse “And you were not with them when they were casting lots [to see] which of them would take charge of Mary’s care”, he said: When Mary (a.s.) was placed in the mosque, the people of the prayer area, who were the scribes of revelation, drew lots for her. They cast lots with their pens to determine who would take guardianship of her. So God said to Muhammad (s.a.w.): “And you were not with them when they were casting lots [to see] which of them would take charge of Mary’s care, nor were you with them when they were contending”.(266)

From ʿIkrima regarding the verse “when they were casting lots [to see] which of them would take charge of Mary”, he said: They cast their pens into the water and they flowed with the current, but Zechariah’s pen rose up, so he took guardianship of her.(267)

Note: After the birth of Mary (a.s.), according to some narrations, the family of ʿImrān, and according to other narrations, the people of the prayer area and the scribes of revelation could not reach an agreement about her guardianship. According to one account, they used writing, and according to another account, they drew lots with their pens, and the lot for Mary’s (a.s.) guardianship fell to Zechariah (a.s.).

2. The Permissibility of Drawing Lots

Al-Bāqir (a.s.) said: The first person for whom lots were drawn was Mary daughter of ʿImrān; then he recited: “when they were casting lots…” And the lots were six in number.(268)

Al-Ṣādiq (a.s.) said: No people have drawn lots and entrusted their affairs to God except that the lot of the rightful one emerged.(269)

And he (a.s.) said: What judgment is more just than drawing lots when the matter is entrusted to God? He says: “Then he drew lots with them and he was the one to be refuted”.(270)

Note: These narrations consider drawing lots to be permissible and a form of entrusting matters to God. The first lot was drawn regarding Mary (a.s.), based on which her guardianship was given to Zechariah (a.s.). The second lot mentioned in the Qur’an relates to the story of Yūnus (a.s.), based on which he was thrown from the ship into the sea and was swallowed by the fish.