 The "muhtasib" in Cairo was the most senior of the four and his position was akin to that of a finance minister.The role of a "muhtasib" was to inspect weights and measures and the quality of goods, maintain legal trade, and to remain vigilant of price gouging.Typically, a "qadi" or Muslim scholar would occupy the post, but in the 15th century, Mamluk emirs began to be appointed as "muhtasibs" in an effort to compensate emirs during cash shortages or as a result of the gradual shift of the "muhtasib's" role from the legal realm to one of enforcement.