❀ Ruling on Using Prayer Beads vs. Counting on Fingers for Dhikr ❀
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 165
Is it permissible to do dhikr using prayer beads (tasbīḥ)? And is the person who counts on their fingers superior to the one who uses prayer beads?
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The Sunnah method of doing dhikr is to count on the fingers of the right hand. This is supported by several authentic narrations:
➤ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ counting the tasbīḥ with his right hand.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1502, Bayhaqī 2/187, Tirmidhī 3652)
➤ Another ḥadīth:
“Count the tasbīḥ on your fingers, for they will be questioned on the Day of Judgement and will testify.”
(Abū Dāwūd 1501, Tirmidhī 3835, Mishkāt 202, Ḥākim 1/547, Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/390)
Some narrations mention counting dhikr without specifying the hand, which indicates that both hands may be used, though the right hand is preferred.
From ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
“The Prophet ﷺ used his right hand for cleanliness and eating, and his left for impure matters.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
There are several reports from the Sahabah and early generations regarding the use of pebbles, date pits, or beads for counting dhikr:
1. Incident of Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه):
A woman was doing tasbīḥ on pebbles, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of something easier and better?”
(Abū Dāwūd 1502, Mishkāt 201 – weak narration)
2. Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy (رضي الله عنها):
She used four thousand date pits for tasbīḥ.
(al-Mustadrak Ḥākim 1/537 – chain is weak)
3. Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
He kept pebbles in a pouch and used them for tasbīḥ.
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/390 – weak chain)
4. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه):
Upon seeing someone using pebbles for tasbīḥ, he said:
“No need for that. Just say: Subḥānallāh as many times as there are things in the heavens and the earth.”
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/391)
5. Abū al-Dardāʾ (رضي الله عنه):
He used date pits to count dhikr.
(Ibn Aḥmad al-Zuhd, 175)
✔ Counting dhikr on fingers is Sunnah and more virtuous, as the fingers will testify on the Day of Judgment.
✔ Using prayer beads (tasbīḥ), pebbles, or pits is also permissible, and practiced by some Sahabah, but not superior to using fingers.
✔ If tasbīḥ beads are used for show or ostentation—worn around the neck or hand merely as adornment—this is disliked.
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“Counting on pebbles is permissible and was practiced by the Sahabah, but counting on fingers is more virtuous.”
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 22/506)
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Taken from: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 165
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to do dhikr using prayer beads (tasbīḥ)? And is the person who counts on their fingers superior to the one who uses prayer beads?
❖ Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
✿ Counting Dhikr on Fingers – The Sunnah Method
The Sunnah method of doing dhikr is to count on the fingers of the right hand. This is supported by several authentic narrations:
➤ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
“I saw the Prophet ﷺ counting the tasbīḥ with his right hand.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1502, Bayhaqī 2/187, Tirmidhī 3652)
➤ Another ḥadīth:
“Count the tasbīḥ on your fingers, for they will be questioned on the Day of Judgement and will testify.”
(Abū Dāwūd 1501, Tirmidhī 3835, Mishkāt 202, Ḥākim 1/547, Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/390)
✿ Is It Permissible to Count with the Left Hand?
Some narrations mention counting dhikr without specifying the hand, which indicates that both hands may be used, though the right hand is preferred.
From ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
“The Prophet ﷺ used his right hand for cleanliness and eating, and his left for impure matters.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
✿ Ruling on Using Prayer Beads (Tasbīḥ)
There are several reports from the Sahabah and early generations regarding the use of pebbles, date pits, or beads for counting dhikr:
1. Incident of Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (رضي الله عنه):
A woman was doing tasbīḥ on pebbles, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Shall I not inform you of something easier and better?”
(Abū Dāwūd 1502, Mishkāt 201 – weak narration)
2. Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy (رضي الله عنها):
She used four thousand date pits for tasbīḥ.
(al-Mustadrak Ḥākim 1/537 – chain is weak)
3. Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
He kept pebbles in a pouch and used them for tasbīḥ.
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/390 – weak chain)
4. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه):
Upon seeing someone using pebbles for tasbīḥ, he said:
“No need for that. Just say: Subḥānallāh as many times as there are things in the heavens and the earth.”
(Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/391)
5. Abū al-Dardāʾ (رضي الله عنه):
He used date pits to count dhikr.
(Ibn Aḥmad al-Zuhd, 175)
✔ Conclusion
✔ Counting dhikr on fingers is Sunnah and more virtuous, as the fingers will testify on the Day of Judgment.
✔ Using prayer beads (tasbīḥ), pebbles, or pits is also permissible, and practiced by some Sahabah, but not superior to using fingers.
✔ If tasbīḥ beads are used for show or ostentation—worn around the neck or hand merely as adornment—this is disliked.
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“Counting on pebbles is permissible and was practiced by the Sahabah, but counting on fingers is more virtuous.”
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 22/506)
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
