قنطر

Core meaning

The quintal: a large quantity of goods, whose matter the text states only when it names gold and silver.

Uses

1. قِنطَار → "a quintal" : a mass of goods: a deposit entrusted, a sum given.

   • «مَنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنطَارٍۢ يُؤَدِّهِۦٓ إِلَيْكَ» — "there are some who, if you entrust them with a quintal, will return it to you" (3:75)
   • «وَءَاتَيْتُمْ إِحْدَىٰهُنَّ قِنطَارًۭا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا» — "and you have given one of them a quintal, take nothing of it back" (4:20)

2. ٱلْقَنَٰطِير ٱلْمُقَنطَرَة → "heaped quintals" : the noun doubled by its own participle: quintals piled up.

   • «وَٱلْقَنَٰطِيرِ ٱلْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ ٱلذَّهَبِ وَٱلْفِضَّةِ» — "heaped quintals of gold and silver" (3:14)

Evidence from the text

In 3:14 the piled quintals are in the list of passions embellished for people, and the matter is stated: "of gold and silver". Elsewhere the text does not name it: in 3:75 the quintal is a deposit returned, set against the dinar that others do not return "unless you keep pressing them for it" (3:75); in 4:20, a sum given to a wife, of which nothing may be taken back. The word says the quantity, not the metal.

Distinctions

• كنز — the treasure: the good hidden and kept, whereas قنطر says the quantity

See also

ذهب (gold)