❖ Ruling on Counting Dhikr on Fingers: Right Hand or Both Hands? ❖
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wal-Ḥadīth, Vol. 1, p. 493
✿ Question:
It is common to count tasbīḥ and other adhkār on the fingers. Is there a ruling that this should be done only on the right hand and not on the left hand?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Yes, authentic narrations indicate that the Prophet ﷺ counted dhikr on his fingers, and some reports specify that he used the right hand.
◈ Evidence ① – Command to Count on Fingers
Narrated by Ḥumayḍah bint Yāsir that Yusairah (رضي الله عنها) informed her:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَمَرَهُنَّ أَنْ يُرَاعِينَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالتَّقْدِيسِ وَالتَّهْلِيلِ وَأَنْ يَعْقِدْنَ بِالْأَنَامِلِ فَإِنَّهُنَّ مَسْئُولَاتٌ مُسْتَنْطَقَاتٌ
“The Prophet ﷺ commanded the women to keep count of takbīr, taqdīs, and tahlīl on their fingers, for they will be asked and made to speak (on the Day of Judgment).”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-Tasbīḥ bil-Ḥaṣā)
◈ Evidence ② – Using the Right Hand
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr (رضي الله عنه) said:
رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَعْقِدُ التَّسْبِيحَ
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ counting the tasbīḥ on his fingers.”
One of the narrators, Ibn Qudāmah, added:
بِيَمِينِهِ
“…with his right hand.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
Conclusion:- The Sunnah is to count dhikr on the fingers.
- Authentic reports specify using the right hand, and that is the safer and more established practice.
- Therefore, a believer should count tasbīḥ on the right-hand fingers rather than using both hands or beads.
