Original article authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), enhanced with headings and additional structuring for easier reading.
❖ Legitimacy of Using Tasbih in Light of Hadith
Narrated from Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas (رضي الله عنه): He and the Prophet ﷺ visited a woman who was performing Tasbih using date pits or pebbles.
This Hadith is found in:
✔ Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith No. 1500)
✔ Sunan Tirmidhi (Hadith No. 3568)
✔ Musnad Sa‘d (Hadith No. 88)
→ Imam Tirmidhi classified it as Hasan Gharib and Imam Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih.
❖ Practice of Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in (رحمه الله)
Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in (رحمه الله) stated that Imam Yahya ibn Sa‘id al-Qattan (رحمه الله) used a string of beads for Tasbih.
→ Source: Tarikh Yahya ibn Ma‘in (Vol. 4, p. 314)
❖ Fatwa of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) stated:
“It is permissible to do Dhikr with beads or a string, provided the intention is sincere. However, doing so to show off is disliked, and unnecessary use may also lead to ostentation.”
→ Majmu‘ al-Fatawa (Vol. 22, p. 506)
❖ Position of Ibn ‘Abidin al-Shami (رحمه الله)
According to the Hanafi scholar Ibn ‘Abidin al-Shami (رحمه الله), using a Tasbih is permissible as long as there is no element of ostentation.
→ Fatawa Shami (Vol. 1, p. 650)
❖ Commentary by Allama ‘Abd al-Ra’uf al-Munawi (رحمه الله)
Allama al-Munawi (رحمه الله) remarked:
“None of the Salaf or Khalaf considered the use of Tasbih as disliked. However, using it without sincerity and while being distracted by worldly matters is blameworthy and discouraged.”
→ Fayd al-Qadir (Vol. 4, p. 355)
❖ Fatwa of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin (رحمه الله)
Shaykh al-‘Uthaymin (رحمه الله) stated:
“Using a Tasbih is permissible if not done to imitate innovators or for showing off. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged counting on fingers as they will bear witness on the Day of Judgment.”
→ Fatawa Nur ‘ala al-Darb
❖ Summary
It is permissible to use a Tasbih for Dhikr, provided the intention is pure and free from ostentation or imitation of innovators.
Using fingers for Tasbih is preferable, as per the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ The Essence of Gratitude (Shukr)
Shaykh al-Islam the Second, Ibn Qayyim (رحمه الله) stated:
“True gratitude is recognizing the blessing with humility and using it in obedience to the Giver (Allah). Merely acknowledging the blessing without recognizing the Giver is not true gratitude.”
→ This statement is found in the works of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah.
