The Ruling on Using a Misbaha (Prayer Beads) on Which the Names of Allah Are Written

Question:
We received questions in the program asking: “Shaykh, what is the ruling on using a misbaha (prayer beads) on which the Beautiful Names of Allah are written?”

Answer:
This is not permissible; this is not permissible. This is a degradation of the names of Allah the Most Beautiful. And the belief that these beads, on which they are written, ward off harm or bring benefit, this is not permissible. This is a defective belief. The prayer beads should be free of writing. There is a problem and scholarly disagreement regarding the use of prayer beads, but if one uses them for counting the tasbih or takbir, they are like the pebbles if one uses them for the counting for which the Sunnah was transmitted; there is nothing wrong with that. However, if one uses them believing that there is a virtue in them, as is the case with the Sufis, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and is not permissible. Yes.