Is Making Decisions By Flipping a Coin Halal?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is making a decision by flipping a coin, drawing lots, or playing rock/paper/scissors with someone haram or halal?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Using chance-based means to decide matters is halal. They do not entail having erroneous beliefs, nor does it mean that those matters have any will or power independent of Allah. Don’t worry about the matter.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used such means, as it is an effective way of being fair in many situations: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah intended to go on a journey he would draw lots between his wives. Whoever’s arrow was drawn he would her with him.“ (Muslim)

This shows these matters are permissible, and even the preferred method to make an unbiased choice in situations.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.