What is the ruling on using prayer beads for dhikr?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : A final question. Is there evidence that prayer beads are a religious innovation and that they were not used in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : This is not the final question.
The questioner : This is the final one.
The Shaykh : You said that this was the final question previously.
The Shaykh : Prayer beads are like the Mawlid. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to count his dhikr with his right hand. It was specifically the women’s share to count with their fingers, and he explained this with a reason that does not exist with prayer beads. He said: [Ya-Sin 36:65] Therefore, counting with the fingers is in the interest of the sensible person, who records for himself a good and righteous testimony in his favor on the Day of Resurrection. As for the prayer beads, they are consumed along with all this... It is clear.
The questioner : Yes, it is clear. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
Abu Layla: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh: And upon you peace.
Abu Layla : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This is not the final question.
The questioner : This is the final one.
The Shaykh : You said that this was the final question previously.
The Shaykh : Prayer beads are like the Mawlid. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to count his dhikr with his right hand. It was specifically the women’s share to count with their fingers, and he explained this with a reason that does not exist with prayer beads. He said:
They should count with their fingers, for they will be questioned and asked about it on the Day of Resurrection.
يعقدن في الأنامل فإنهن مسئولات ومستنطقات يوم القيامةThat Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.
الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَى أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَThe questioner : Yes, it is clear. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The phone rang.
رن التليفونAbu Layla: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh: And upon you peace.
Abu Layla : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.