Casting Lots

CASTING LOTS. Zalam, or casting lots by shooting arrows, was an ancient Arabic custom, which is forbidden by Muhammad in his Qur’an, Surah v. 4; but qur`ah or casting lots, in its ordinary sense, is not forbidden, for `Ayishah relates that when the Prophet went on a journey, he used to cast lots as to which wife he should take with him. (Mishkat Babu ‘l-Qasam.)

Based on Hughes, Dictionary of Islam