Tasbih with the Misbaha and the Report of Ibn Mas'ud

The questioner:
You mentioned yesterday that using the misbaha indicates a lack of tasbih after the prayer,

The Shaykh:
or before the prayer, or at any time, which is contrary to the ruling. If the intention is merely to keep count, it is like using the fingers. However, if the intention is to believe that there is virtue in it and that it carries reward, this is not permissible, because there is no reward in it. Only pebbles are permissible, just as tasbih with pebbles is permissible, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved of it from Dawayr. So tasbih with the beads of the misbaha is permissible, unless one believes that it has special merit and that it is a symbol of worship, as the Sufis believe. This is not permissible.

The questioner:
May Allah will it. How do we reconcile this with the prohibition of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) of some of the Companions from using pebbles for tasbih?

The Shaykh:
He disapproved of their using pebbles for tasbih, may Allah forgive you. He only disapproved of their specifying a certain number, saying "recite this much," and of their collective voice. This is what he disapproved of: their gathering, where it is necessary that everyone gathers and each one recites at that moment, meaning a group gathering, a collective voice, and imposing a specific number. This is what Ibn Mas'ud disapproved of: this manner and this characteristic. As for merely doing tasbih with pebbles, he did not disapprove of that. This is found in the Sunan. Yes.