Weight and Measures From the very beginning of the Muslims State, great care was taken to see that merchants and dealers used proper weights and measures. Of all the Pious Caliphs Ali (Rad.A) was most particular about it. He used to go round the market of al-Kufa, whip in hand, to see that proper weights and measures were used and no one cheated anyone else. Under the Umayyads police officers were in charge of the supervision of weights and measures. Wai id I was also in the habit of visiting markets. Sometimes he even reduced the prices of articles. Under the Umayyads, weights and measures were standardized and they used to be sealed by the Government. AlHajjaj seems to be at the bottom of this reform. The picture of a Byzantine weight, validated by Walid I, bearing, two ounces, and on the reverse a Kufic inscription stating that the Caliph has recognized it as equivalent to two uqiyahs is published by Hitti. He is of the opinion that probably it is the earliest inscribed Muslim weight thus far found.
