The Difference Between al-Mubadirah and al-Muhatah in Archery Contests

The questioner : It is fitting that we clarify the ruling on a hit: is it al-Mubadirah or al-Muhatah? Al-Mubadirah is a right. Yes. Is it al-Mubadirah or al-Muhatah? Al-Mubadirah is when it is stipulated that whoever hits two targets or the like first is the winner. So, if they are equal in shooting, whoever hits them first is the winner. If each shoots ten arrows and one of them hits two while the other does not, he is the winner, and it is not necessary to complete the shooting, because the objective has been achieved. If each of them hits two out of the ten, then neither is the winner, and the contest is invalid, because exceeding the number of hits is not counted. If they shoot the twenty and neither hits two, or if they both hit two, then there is no winner between them. As for al-Muhatah, it is when they stipulate a right based on equality in the number of hits, and then whoever exceeds his opponent by a known number of hits is the winner. If they stipulate an excess of three hits and they shoot fifteen, and one of them hits all of them.

The Shaykh : The difference between al-Muhatah and al-Mubadirah. Al-Mubadirah means that whoever gets ahead, even by half the number, is the winner. Al-Muhatah is when it is said, no, complete the number, because if you get ahead of me now and exceed me by one, perhaps in the remainder I will surpass you, be more than you, or equal you, which would invalidate the system. This is the difference between them. However, we know that if it reaches a point where the second person cannot get ahead, al-Muhatah and al-Mubadirah become equal.