What is a dirham?
Q: What is a dirham?
A: A dirham is a unit of currency used in several Arabic-speaking nations.
Q: Which countries use the dirham currency?
A: The Moroccan dirham, the United Arab Emirates dirham, 1/1000 of the Libyan dinar, 1/100 of the Qatari riyal, and 1/10 of the Jordanian dinar use the dirham currency.
Q: What is the value of a dirham in Tajikistani somoni?
A: The dirham, spelt 'diram,' is 1/100 of the Tajikistani somoni.
Q: What is the historical origin of the word "dirham"?
A: The word "dirham" historically comes from 'dirhem' which comes from the name of a Greek coin, the Drachm.
Q: When did the dirham become an Islamic currency?
A: Near the end of the 7th century, the dirham became an Islamic currency.
Q: Where was the dirham circulated in pre-Islamic times?
A: The Byzantine Empire controlled the Levant and traded with Arabia, circulating the coin there in pre-Islamic times and afterward.
Q: In which countries, outside the Arabic-speaking nations, was the dirham used as currency?
A: The dirham was used by many Mediterranean countries, including Spain. It could be used as currency in Europe between the 10th and 12 centuries.
