Is the misbaha (prayer beads) a bid'ah (religious innovation), and I heard that using the fingers is better so that they testify for you on the Day of Resurrection?
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The questioner:
Is the misbaha a bid'ah? It is a question that is both old and new. I have heard some people say for a long time that it is a bid'ah, and despite that, I used to use it. I also heard that using the fingers is better so that they testify for you on the Day of Resurrection. To revive the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), my conviction was that Allah is capable of making the misbaha testify for me. Then, suddenly, I stopped using it out of fear of Allah's punishment, even though it makes it much easier for me when I seek forgiveness and recite the adhkar (remembrances). I ask for a definitive answer regarding this matter. May Allah reward you with good. Do I use it or not?
The Shaykh:
Counting the tasbih (praise), takbir (glorification), tahlil (declaration of oneness), and dhikr (remembrance) with the fingers is better, because it is using them for the obedience of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), as they testify for their owner on the Day of Resurrection. If one counts the dhikr with something else, like a misbaha, then that is permissible.
Or with pebbles. One counts the tasbih, takbir, and tahlil with pebbles, as Juwayriyyah, the Mother of the Believers, did. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw her doing so and did not disapprove of it. So the matter is broad in this regard, and praise be to Allah. However, tasbih with the fingers is better, except for one who believes that the misbaha has a special merit, as the Sufis believe, and they take it as a symbol. This has no basis. Yes. May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
So, is its use permissible without belief, Shaykh Salih? May Allah preserve you, except for the purpose of keeping track and counting the numbers?
The Shaykh:
Yes, indeed. Its use is permissible as a means of helping to keep track of the number, provided one does not believe it has any special merit.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Is the misbaha a bid'ah? It is a question that is both old and new. I have heard some people say for a long time that it is a bid'ah, and despite that, I used to use it. I also heard that using the fingers is better so that they testify for you on the Day of Resurrection. To revive the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), my conviction was that Allah is capable of making the misbaha testify for me. Then, suddenly, I stopped using it out of fear of Allah's punishment, even though it makes it much easier for me when I seek forgiveness and recite the adhkar (remembrances). I ask for a definitive answer regarding this matter. May Allah reward you with good. Do I use it or not?
The Shaykh:
Counting the tasbih (praise), takbir (glorification), tahlil (declaration of oneness), and dhikr (remembrance) with the fingers is better, because it is using them for the obedience of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), as they testify for their owner on the Day of Resurrection. If one counts the dhikr with something else, like a misbaha, then that is permissible.
Or with pebbles. One counts the tasbih, takbir, and tahlil with pebbles, as Juwayriyyah, the Mother of the Believers, did. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw her doing so and did not disapprove of it. So the matter is broad in this regard, and praise be to Allah. However, tasbih with the fingers is better, except for one who believes that the misbaha has a special merit, as the Sufis believe, and they take it as a symbol. This has no basis. Yes. May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
So, is its use permissible without belief, Shaykh Salih? May Allah preserve you, except for the purpose of keeping track and counting the numbers?
The Shaykh:
Yes, indeed. Its use is permissible as a means of helping to keep track of the number, provided one does not believe it has any special merit.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل المسبحة بدعة، وسمعت أن استخدام الأصابع أفضل لكي تشهد عليك يوم القيامة؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.