❖ Dhikr Counting: Using a Tasbīḥ or Fingers? Shar‘i Guidance ❖
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wal-Ḥadīth, Vol. 1, p. 492
✿ Question:
Is it correct to perform dhikr and use a tasbīḥ (prayer beads) for counting? If someone wants to recite a phrase 100 times but forgets while counting on fingers, what is the ruling?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Count on your fingertips."
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
Thus, the Sunnah method is to count dhikr on the fingers, as they will bear witness on the Day of Judgment.
One should learn the Arabic method of finger counting, and by practicing it, inshāʾAllāh, forgetting will not occur.
Conclusion:- The correct Sunnah way is to use the fingers for counting dhikr.
- Using a tasbīḥ is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
- Learning the proper finger-counting method ensures accuracy and avoids forgetfulness.
