The SÃÂÿ ( and in spelling, and sa'e in the Latin alphabet, literally: "one") is an ancient measurement of volume from the Islamic world, with cultural and religious significance. While its exact volume is uncertain, the Arabic word SÃÂÿ translates to "small container," related to the Quranic word á¹£uwÃÂÿ ("cup, goblet"). Together with the Mudd and the Makkà «k, the SÃÂÿ is part of the system of units of volume used in the Arabic peninsula.
There is general agreement between medieval Arabic authors that 1 SÃÂÿ = 4 Mudd. The 9th-century scholar al-KhwÃÂrizmë indicates that this was the opinion of the people of Medina. Likewise, Shams al-Dën al-Maqdisë, who lived in the 10th century, stated that in al-ḤijÃÂz 1 SÃÂÿ = 4 Mudd = 1/3 Makkà «k. Az-ZahrÃÂwë related the SÃÂÿ with Xestes, declaring that at the Rûm, 1 SÃÂÿ = 10 Xestes.
Because the SÃÂÿ was related to different measures of mass, many standardization problems occurred. Its relation to the Ratl was especially controversial, with two prevailing opinions:
Al-Juwayni reported that Al-ShafiâÂÂi and also the hanafi scholar Abu Yusuf quarreled about the measurement of the SÃÂÿ in front of the Kalif Harun al-Rashid (reigned 786âÂÂ809) at Medina. The Kalif invited the progeny of Muhajirun with their SÃÂÿ- Vessels, which they inherited from their ancestors. When it turned out that the measurement given by Al-ShafiâÂÂi (1 SÃÂÿ = 4 Mudd = 5 1/3 Ratl) was right, Abà « Yà «suf ultimately agreed with the opinion. Taking into account the fact that in Baghdad, 1 Ratl = 130 dirhams, the Muslim scholars have also established the equation: 1 SÃÂÿ = 693 1/3 dirhams.
Like the Mudd, the SÃÂÿ has an additional symbolic and religious meaning in Islam than simply a measurement. According to a hadith referred to by Anas ibn Malik in different versions and is also found in Sahih al-Bukhari, Muhammad asked God on the return from the Battle of Khaybar to bless the SÃÂÿ and the Mudd of the Muslims.
The SÃÂÿ is especially important for the measurement of the Zakat al-fitr, a beautiful alms-giving that must be done on Eid al-Fitr. This alms has the value of one SÃÂÿ of grain per family member. According to Islamic tradition, this value was established by Muhammad in the year 2 of the Hijra (623/624 AD). In the absence of a Mudd or Sàmeasure, the amount of grain for the ZakÃÂt al-fitr can also be measured with the two hands held together; four of these double handfuls are considered equal to one SÃÂÿ. In Fès, the rule was that in the occasion that needy people received a larger amount of grain in the distribution of zakÃÂt al-fitr by their neighbors, they would have to pass on the surplus to other needy people. You should only keep one SÃÂÿ per family member.
Special SÃÂÿ-measuring vessels were produced for the metering of the ZakÃÂt al-fitr. For example, for the merinid sultan Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman (reigned 1331âÂÂ1351), a vessel was made from copper, which should represent the "SÃÂÿ of the Prophet." An inscription attached to the vessel contains a long Isnad, over which the calibration of the measuring vessel could be retraced to the prophet's companion, Zaid ibn Thabit.
Based on hadith, the SÃÂÿ is also considered to be the minimum amount of water that must be available to perform a valid ghusl.
Use of the SÃÂÿ for non-ritual purposes is recorded only in the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Maqdisë reports that the Arabs had two different SÃÂÿ units on the ships, a small one for compensating sailors, and a large one used for commercial transactions.
According to Walther Hinz, who relies on the news of a Mudd calibration vessel from Ayyubid time, the "SÃÂÿ of the Prophet" ( á¹£ÃÂ' an-nabë ) is exactly 4.2125 liters. Converting this measure to the weight of wheat it is a value of 3.24 kg. The SÃÂÿ-vessel for the Merinid Sultan Abà « l-Hasan, which was also to represent the "SÃÂÿ of the Prophet," has a volume of 2.75 liters.
According to students of Abdul Muhsin bin Hamad al Abbaad, the head of the department of Sharia in the Islamic University of Medina, the Majority opinion of the Fuqaha (experts in Islamic jurisprudence) is:
A Sa of raw grain is 2.3 kilograms according to the Hanbali, Maliki & Shafi'i schools of thought. A Mudd of raw grain is 510 grams according to the Hanbali, Maliki & Shafi'i schools of thought. 2.3 kilograms of grain is about 3 liters, this being the minimum amount of water to perform a valid Ghusl (full body ablution) 60 Sa = 1 Wask
The Minority opinion of the Fuqaha is: A Sa of raw grain is 3.3 kilograms according to the Hanafi school of thought.