Using the Misbaha
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Question: What is the ruling on the misbaha with the intention of reminding its holder to remember Allah?
Answer: If a person adopts the misbaha believing that there is virtue in using it and that it is one of the means of remembering Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah).
As for if a person uses it as a permissible matter or to count things that he needs to count, then this is among the permissible matters.
As for adopting it as a religion and an act of devotion, this is considered among the newly invented innovations, and it is obligatory for a person, if he wants to glorify Allah, to glorify Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and count the glorification with the knots of his fingers; this is what is required.
As for adopting the misbaha on the basis that it has virtue, as some Sufis and their followers believe, and for that reason you find many of them carrying these large misbahas and hanging them around their necks, then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis, and it also falls under showing off in worship (riya'). And Allah knows best.
Answer: If a person adopts the misbaha believing that there is virtue in using it and that it is one of the means of remembering Allah (Mighty and Majestic), then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah).
As for if a person uses it as a permissible matter or to count things that he needs to count, then this is among the permissible matters.
As for adopting it as a religion and an act of devotion, this is considered among the newly invented innovations, and it is obligatory for a person, if he wants to glorify Allah, to glorify Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and count the glorification with the knots of his fingers; this is what is required.
As for adopting the misbaha on the basis that it has virtue, as some Sufis and their followers believe, and for that reason you find many of them carrying these large misbahas and hanging them around their necks, then this is a religious innovation (bid'ah) with no basis, and it also falls under showing off in worship (riya'). And Allah knows best.