SHOPPING SECTION · 8 – The Scale is Medina's Scale. Hadith
According to the narration of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The standard measure of weight is the measure of the people of Mecca, and the standard measure of volume is the measure of the people of Medina.”
Abu Dawud said: Walid ibn Muslim narrated this hadith from Hanzala. He said: The standard measure of weight is the measure of Medina, and the standard measure of volume is the measure of Mecca.
Abu Dawud said: There is a difference of opinion in this hadith which Malik bin Dinar narrated from Ata, who narrated it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
**EXPLANATION:**
Since there was no agriculture in Mecca, the people of Mecca were engaged in trade and used gold and silver in their transactions. Therefore, they took care in weighing gold and silver, and since the surrounding people knew this, when disputes arose about weights, the measure of the people of Mecca was accepted as standard.
The people of Medina were involved in agriculture, so they measured their produce. In their trade, measures held an important place, and when there was disagreement about measurements, the measure of the people of Medina was accepted as standard.