Database: Muhtasib (Market Inspector)
In the bazaar, many dangers awaited: rigged weight scales, prices inflated by merchant cartels, and counterfeit goods. Luckily, one could count on the muhtasib (market inspector) to keep it real!
Appointed by the caliph himself, the muhtasib had multiple responsibilities. The most important ones were to ensure the use of sound weight scales and measures in the market and to check that goods were well made and fairly priced. Other responsibilities could include ensuring trade routes were clear of traffic and that water supplies were not polluted. Falling foul of the inspector or his assistants could be punished in a variety of ways, including fines and confiscation of goods.
Being a muhtasib was considered a prestigious appointment, which denotes the value Abbasid society put on trade and integrity in the marketplace. The Arabic root from which muhtasib is derived has connotations around calculating and accounting. It was also a pious one, as the word itself came from the religious concept of hisba, the Muslim obligation to "command the good and forbid wrong". The market inspector was therefore an important figure of any Muslim city and only the most knowledgeable and incorruptible were supposed to hold this office.