Using Prayer Beads

[ummtaalib]

Question:

Assalamualaikum

,
what is the proof of using a prayer bead? some say it is Bid'ah is this right?
 

Wassalaam

 

 

Answer:

 Fatwaa no.  227/05

                  

 

Hazrat Sa’aad bin Abi Waqqaas (R.A.) reports that once, while accompanied by the Nabi of Allah (S.A.W.), he came across a lady who was using date pits or pebbles for making Tasbeeh (glorifying Allah). Nabi (S.A.W.) addressed her saying, “Should I not inform you of an easier or better way than that, SUBHANALLAHI ‘ADADA MA KHALAQA FIS SAMAAI’ WA SUBHANALLHI ‘ADADA MA KHALAQA FIL ARDHI WA SUBHANALLAHI ‘ADADA MA BAYNA THALIK WA SUBHANALLAHI ‘ADADA MA HUWA KHALIQ WALLAHU AKBAR MITHLA THALIK WALHAMDULILLAHI MITHLA THALIK WA LAILAHA ILLALLAHU MITHLA THALIK WA LA HAUWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAHI MITHLA THALIK.” 

 

In the commentary of this Hadith, the author of Mirqaat (a commentary of Mishkaat) explains that, the fact that Nabi (S.A.W.) did not disapprove of her action or show any resentment towards it, clearly proves that using beads, pebbles, etc. when making Tasbeeh is permissible. It would therefore be incorrect to classify an act which Nabi (S.AW.) approved of, as Bid’ah.

 

Hazrat Umar (R.A.) once saw a person using beads for making Tasbeeh and he did not prevent him from doing so.

 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) used a string, which consisted of a number of knots for making Tasbeeh.

 

There are many Ahadeeth in which the Nabi of Allah instructed the Sahabah to recite a particular Zikr a certain amount of times, which naturally implies that something be used for counting.

(Mirqaat, Vol. 5, Page 138-139, Hayaatus Sahabah, Vol. 3, Page 427)

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

Ebrahim bin Zainul Abedeen Backus

Attested to as correct by:

Mufti Muhammad Ashraf

Darul Iftaa

Jameah Mahmoodiyah

Springs

www.mahmoodiyah.org.za

[email protected]      

[ummtaalib]

Q: Is it permissible in Islam to do zikr on a Tasbeeh because some one said that our Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) never used a Tasbeeh in his life. 

A: It is permissible to recite zikr on a tasbeeh.

رقم 3554 – حدثنا محمد بن بشار حدثنا عبد الصمد بن عبد الوارث حدثنا هاشم وهو ابن سعيد الكوفي حدثني كنانة مولى صفية قال سمعت صفية تقول : دخل علي رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم وبين يدي أربعة آلاف نواة أسبح بها فقلت لقد سبحت بهذه فقال ألا أعلمك بأكثر مما سبحت ؟ فقلت علمني فقال قولي سبحان الله عدد خلقه (ترمذي 2/195)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)