The Drawing of Lots in the Story of Yunus (peace be upon him)

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, did they draw lots regarding Yunus (peace be upon him)? Is that not casting oneself into destruction? If so, how was it permissible?

Answer:
This is in their religion, for the ship was in distress and they said, "One of you must be a sinner, though we do not know who it is or whether he is guilty." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Yunus, and he was thrown into the sea. He, peace be upon him, had become angry and fled from his people when they refused to respond to him; he did not have patience and fled in anger. So Allah the Exalted intended to punish him, meaning, "We will not make it narrow," Allah turned to him in repentance, so Allah accepted his repentance. This was because he did not have patience when his people disobeyed him; he became angry and fled. He boarded the ship, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, intended to show him the punishment for what he had done. So the lot fell on him, and he was thrown into the sea, and the whale swallowed him. It swallowed him whole, and he was in the belly of the whale. But he repented to Allah and turned back to Allah, so Allah responded to him and saved him from destruction and from the belly of the whale. This is mentioned in the Qur'an. Yes.