The Ancient Arabic units of measurement were a system of using units to associate with physical quantities. Arabic symbols are used to represent the values. The measurements were based on body measurements and common natural items. The length of forearm, shin and the standard size of a typical village were among the most accepted length units. About surface, usually Jerib or Djerib, was the most usual unit which is mostly similar to acre or hectare. Another unit known as Sa was mostly used to measure volume which is approximately equal to 3 liters. Although having similar names, the size of units may differ depending on region.

Length

إصبع1⁄16 Arabic foot~2.25cmA finger-length
Qabḍhah قبضة1⁄4 Arabic foot~9cmA palm-length
Arabic foot قدم عربية~32cm
Dhira ذراعcubit: traditionally 2 Arabic feet, later 1+1⁄2 Arabic feetCubit
قامةfathom: 6 Arabic feet~1.92 mA pace-length
Qaṣbah قصبة12 Arabic feet~3.84 mA cane-length
Seirstade: 600 Arabic feet~192 m
Ghalwah720 Arabic feet~230.4 m
Parasang فرسخparasang or league: 18,000 Arabic feet~5.76km
Barid بريد4 parasang~23.04km
Marḥalah مرحلة8 parasang~46.08kmA village-length.

See also

  • Uqiyyah, the Arabic ounce or half-pound, depending on region.
  • Qafiz, an Arabic unit for measuring volumes.
  • Sāʿ, an ancient unit of volume, equal to 2 to 4 liters, depending on region.
  • The Arabic mile (al-mīl), a unit of length employed by Arab geographers and scientists.
  • , Springer, 2003, pp.76–78, ISBN9781852336820.
  • Zupko, Ronald and Chisholm, Lawrence James. "measurement system". Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Nov. 2018, . Accessed 10 December 2021.