Original article authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), enhanced with headings and additional structuring for easier reading.
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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.
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.
❖ 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.
