Arabic (مد) for a unit of weight measurement; an Islamic measurement unit (mekiyal) that is equal to a quarter (1/4) of sa’a– the sa’a being ratl and one third- i.e., 1.3 artal (according to jumhur al-fuqaha and the Hanafi jurist Abi Yousef). Other fuqaha (namely, Hanafi or Ahnaf) defined madd as two ratls (ratlan/ ratlain). Accordingly, in terms of the metric system, madd is the equivalent of 509 grams (based on the opinion of jumhur al-fuqaha) or 506.5 grams (based on the view of the Malki school of thought). Madd is broadly estimated as two handfuls of an average person.
Madd, as a dry measure, was used in Madinah (Medina) during the time of the Prophet (Muhammad, peace be upon him) and is part of the classical Islamic measurement system.
