Did the counting of dhikr with pebbles come from the Prophet? And what is its authenticity?
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The questioner : Did the counting of dhikr with pebbles come from the Prophet, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : We can answer this question by saying: it came and it did not come. Because the word "came" in common usage can mean it came through an authentic chain. So, if the questioner means it came through an authentic chain, we say: No. But if it came through a weak chain, we say: Yes. However, if it did not come, it has no value. That is, there is a hadith in "Sunan al-Tirmidhi" that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a woman after the Fajr prayer, and she was reciting tasbih and counting with pebbles. Then he returned to her in the late morning and found her as he had seen her before. He said to her:.
The questioner : ... Glory be to Allah, the weight of His Throne.
The Shaykh : The weight of His Throne, yes.
The questioner : Glory be to Allah, the ink of His words.
The Shaykh : Yes, this hadith with the addition that he saw her counting with pebbles is in al-Tirmidhi with a weak chain. It came in "Sahih Muslim" from the hadith of Juwayriyah, the Mother of the Believers, without mentioning the pebbles. That is, she sat from Fajr until the late morning, so he (peace be upon him) directed her to this preferred dhikr. That is, few words and much reward. So the first story came, as I said, in "Sunan al-Tirmidhi," but the mention of counting with pebbles by that woman did not become authentic. Because if it were authentic, it would mean it is a proof for the permissibility of counting with pebbles. But it would not become a Sunnah; because the Sunnah is counting with the fingers. But since the Messenger saw it and remained silent, this indicates permissibility. But this is said if it were authentic. As for it not being authentic, we are relieved of it.
The Shaykh : We can answer this question by saying: it came and it did not come. Because the word "came" in common usage can mean it came through an authentic chain. So, if the questioner means it came through an authentic chain, we say: No. But if it came through a weak chain, we say: Yes. However, if it did not come, it has no value. That is, there is a hadith in "Sunan al-Tirmidhi" that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a woman after the Fajr prayer, and she was reciting tasbih and counting with pebbles. Then he returned to her in the late morning and found her as he had seen her before. He said to her:
I have said a word
لقد قلتُ قولًاThe questioner : ... Glory be to Allah, the weight of His Throne.
The Shaykh : The weight of His Throne, yes.
The questioner : Glory be to Allah, the ink of His words.
The Shaykh : Yes, this hadith with the addition that he saw her counting with pebbles is in al-Tirmidhi with a weak chain. It came in "Sahih Muslim" from the hadith of Juwayriyah, the Mother of the Believers, without mentioning the pebbles. That is, she sat from Fajr until the late morning, so he (peace be upon him) directed her to this preferred dhikr. That is, few words and much reward. So the first story came, as I said, in "Sunan al-Tirmidhi," but the mention of counting with pebbles by that woman did not become authentic. Because if it were authentic, it would mean it is a proof for the permissibility of counting with pebbles. But it would not become a Sunnah; because the Sunnah is counting with the fingers. But since the Messenger saw it and remained silent, this indicates permissibility. But this is said if it were authentic. As for it not being authentic, we are relieved of it.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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