Can I use prayer beads (Masbahah/Tasbeeh) to do Dhikr or should I count on my fingers?
- Asma Bint Shameem
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
by Asma bint Shameem
ANSWER
Even though it’s permissible to use prayer beads for doing Tasbeeh and dhikr, it’s much BETTER to count on the fingers.
Why?
Because using the fingers to do Tasbeeh and Dhikr is the SUNNAH.
The Prophet ﷺ only used his fingers to count and do all kinds of dhikr.
And he ﷺ encouraged his Ummah to do the same.
🍃 He said:
“Count on your fingers, for they will be questioned and made to speak.”
(Ahmad —hasan by al-Albaani)
So if it’s the Sunnah then why abandon that for something that’s NOT from the Sunnah and use prayer beads?
🔺Is it “haraam” or “bid’ah” to use prayer beads or counters etc for dhikr and Tasbeeh?
There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about whether using prayer beads is haraam or bid’ah.
Some scholars said that it’s bid’ah and some said it’s not ‘haraam’ to use counters, prayer beads, etc for dhikr and some said that it depends on your intention.
But irrespective, it’s much BETTER to use the fingers because that’s what the Prophet ﷺ did and encouraged.
🍃Shaykh Salih al-Fawzaan said:
The tasbeeh beads when a person makes use of it, believing that in using it there is some excellence and virtue, and that it is from the ways and means of the remembrance of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, then this is an innovation.
As for when a person uses them from the angle of the permitted things (mubaahaat), or that he counts those things with them which he needs to count, then this is from the permitted affairs.
As for taking them as religion and nearness, then this is treated as [being from] the newly-introduced innovations.
And it is better that a person glorify (Allaah) and count the tasbeeh by his fingers, this is what is desirablel.
As for taking the beads upon the understanding that there is virtue in them as is believed by some of the Sufis and their followers and for which reason you find them carrying these bulky beads and wearing them around their necks, this enters into showing off (riyaa) from one angle, and it has no foundation in the Sharee’ah (from another), hence making use of it and employing it becomes from the newly-introduced innovations.”
(Nur alaa al-Darb Fatawa Shaykh Salih al-Fawzaan 1/81)
🍃 Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said:
“Doing tasbeeh with the masbahah is not haraam or bid’ah, but it is better not to do it, because the one who does tasbeeh with the masbahah has SHUNNED something better.”
🍃 Shaikh al-Albaani said:
“If there is only one bad thing about the masbahah, which is that it takes the place of the Sunnah of counting on the fingers,....then that is bad enough.
How rarely I see people counting their tasbeeh on their fingers!”
(al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah 1/117)
🔺HOW to count on the fingers
Generally speaking, the Sunnah is to use the fingers of the right hand to do dhikr.
The Prophet ﷺ loved to use the right hand for good things.
🍃 Our Mother Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“The right hand of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was for his purification and food, and his left hand was for using the toilet and anything that was dirty.”
(Abu Dawood 33; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)
However if there’s a need or reason, the left hand may also be used.
🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“It hasn’t been affirmed from the Prophet ﷺ that he used to do tasbeeh with his left hand.
Rather it has only come that he used to perform tasbeeh through his right hand.
However, at the same time, the one who does tasbeeh with his left hand is not to be criticized.
Rather, it is only to be said to him ‘the sunnah is to suffice oneself with doing tasbeeh through the right hand.”
As for a specific way to do dhikr on the fingers. there’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about that.
Some said to use only the fingertips.
Some said to count on the joints of the fingers.
Some scholars said to say Subhaan Allaah, Alhamdulillaah and Allaahu Akbar separately and some scholars were of the opinion that we should say them all together.
🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“As for the sunnah, it is to count on the whole finger because of his (the Prophet’s) statement: count on the fingertips.
Counting was well known with the Arabs and they do not count with every fingertip alone, but rather with the whole finger.
For example he says ‘Subhaan Allaah wal Hamdulilaah wa Allaahu Akbar’ without pointing to the joints.
Some people say ‘Subhaan Allaah wal Hamdulilaah wa Allaahu Akbar’ on every joint glorifying or praising Allaah and this I don’t think is the sunnah.
The sunnah is this ‘Subhaan Allaah wal Hamdulillaah wa Allaahu Akbar, Subhaan Allaah wal Hamdulillaah wa Allaahu Akbar, Subhaan Allaah wal Hamdulillaah wa Allaahu Akbar’.
Why?
Because the Messenger ﷺ said ‘Count on the fingertips’ and counting with the Arabs was not on every joint but with the fingers as is in the hadeeth of Ibn Umar radiallahu Anhu; he counted Fifty-three or sixty Three”
(Liqaa al-Baab al-Maftooh)
Here Shaykh al Usaymi shows how to do tasbeeh on the hand:
🔺Conclusion:
it’s only allowed to use the prayer beads if it serves a PURPOSE, like it helps you to stay focused on the dhikr or if it helps you to count, etc.
But it would be more recommended and closer to the Sunnah to use the fingers.
But whatever you use to make dhikr and Tasbeeh, make SURE your HEART is ATTACHED to the dhikr and you KNOW what you’re saying.
That’s because HEEDLESS Dhikr, when there’s no focus of the heart or the tongue on the dhikr, would be of little significance.
Think about it.
If there’s no connection of what’s on the tongue, with the heart, what good would that do?
What rewards would that bring?
....irrespective of whether one uses the fingers or prayer beads or anything else!
I’ve personally seen people holding prayer beads and religiously moving one bead after another, literally for hours, while their eyes are glued to the screen, watching Indian movies!
Subhaan Allaah!
What kind of ‘Dhikr’ is that?!!
🍃 Imaam Al-Mannaawi said:
“As for what heedless people used to do, of holding a masbahah which is very ornate and costly, and carrying it without any presence of mind or thought, and talking or listening to people, or talking to them whilst moving its beads through his fingers, when his heart and tongue are distracted by worldly matters, this is blameworthy and is makrooh, and it is one of the worst of reprehensible deeds.”
(Fayd al-Qadeer, 4/468)
And Allaah knows best