Mithqal
/ˈmɪθ.kɑːl/noun
A traditional Arabic unit of weight, especially used for gold, silver, and precious goods.
Did you know?The Qur’an uses mithqāl in the phrase “the weight of a mustard seed,” making the unit both a physical measure and a symbol of microscopic deeds being accounted for.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ṯ-q-l
“To be heavy or have weight; a reconstructed Semitic root”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ثَقُلَ (ṯaqula)
“To become heavy or weighty”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
مِثْقَال (miṯqāl)
“A weight or a standard measure of weight, formed from the root for “be heavy””
7th Century
Arabic
مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ (mithqāla dharratin)
“The weight of a tiny particle or mustard seed, in Qur’anic expression”
Medieval Period
Arabic/Persian
mithqāl
“A commonly used weight for precious metals, often standardized at roughly 4.25 grams”
Modern English
English
mithqal
“A historical Arabic unit of weight, also spelled misqal or mitqal”