383 Things unseen: belong to a realm beyond the reach of human perception and therefore it would be unseemly to dispute or speculate about them. (R). 384 Literally, reeds: aqlam.. For the Arab custom of casting lots with arrows, see
2:219, n. 241. 385 Christian apocryphal writings mention the contention between the priests as to the honour of taking charge of Mary, and how it was decided by means of rods and reeds in favour of Zakariya.