المعنى الاصطلاحي

The arrows that the Arabs used in pre-Islamic times as an augury to predict whether a matter was good or evil in order to make a decision regarding it.

الشرح المختصر

"Azlaam" (featherless arrows) are the headless or featherless arrows that the Arabs would place into a container and then shake that container in order to determine whether a matter was good or evil in the time of "Jaahiliyyah" (before Islam). In that time, if a man wanted to travel, fight, trade goods, get married, or do any other important matter, he would place arrows in a container and then shake it. They would write on some arrows, "My Lord has ordered me," and on others, "My Lord has forbidden me," and they would leave some blank. After shuffling the arrows, if they drew out an arrow ordering them to do the act, then they would do it; and if it forbade them from doing it, they would refrain from doing it; and if they drew a blank arrow, they would repeat the procedure. This act has been forbidden in Islam because it contradicts the belief of having trust in Allah.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Azlaam" (sing. zalam): featherless arrows. Original meaning: leveling, making even.

التعريف

Arrows or cups the idolater Arabs used to find out their prospects. They would write on one: ‘my lord commands me’; and on another: ‘my lord forbids me’; and on a third: ‘unknown’. They would then go ahead, or refrain, or repeat the process if they drew the ‘unknown’.