BinZiad
18-06-2002, 12:16
QUESTION; As-Salam `Alaykum. I would like to ask if it is permissible to use sibha (beads) in doing Tasbeeh, and is it true that Ibn Masoud, may Allah be pleased with him, prevented people from using small stones in Tasbeeh? Jazakum Allahu Khayran.
ANSWER; Sheikh 'Atiyyah Saqr
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
First of all, we’d like to thank you for the great confidence you have in us and we pray to Allah Almighty to guide us all.
As for what has been narrated about Ibn Mas’ood’s prohibition of using stones in Tasbeeh, it is true. But did he mean the prohibition of using stones in particular or gathering for making Dhikr (remembering Allah) on the way mentioned in the narration, or he meant both? Anyhow, this reflected Ibn Masood’s great keenness on adhering to Sunnah. Now, is there anything in Sunnah that prevents using beads in Tasbeeh?
To get this clear, please read the following fatwa issued by Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee:
At the advent of Islam, people were commanded to frequently remember Allah in the same way they were ordered to observe all other rituals and acts of worship. Remembering Allah (Dhikr) is mentioned in many places in the Glorious Qur’an, such as the verse that reads: “Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.”(Al-‘Imraan:191) and the other verse that states: “O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify Him early and late.”(Al-Ahzaab: 41,42)
Many Hadiths have defined the number and the time of remembering Almighty Allah, as is the case with the thirty three utterances of glorifying Allah, praising Him 33 times and the thirty three utterances of “Allah is Great” as well as reiterating the words “There is no god but Allah”, which represents the completion of the hundredth number of uttering words that signify Allah’s remembrance. This is the act a Muslim is urged to do right after prayer.
As we know, in the course of this act of remembering Allah, a person may be in need of something that reminds him of the number of the utterances he has made.
It is well known that the Prophet, peace and blessings of be upon him, used to count the number of utterances using his fingertips. This is reported by Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim. The Prophet’s Companions also directed us to use fingertips for counting the number of utterances. Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim reported that Busrah, who was one of the female migrants, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “You are to stick to praising Allah, glorifying and exalting Him. Never relapse into heedlessness, lest you deviate from the true creed of monotheism. Use your fingertips (to count the utterances of remembering Allah) for they well be witness for you (on the Day of Resurrection).”
However, this command does not make it the only way for counting. It is a fact that using the fingertips gives the sense of following the Prophet’s example. Using any other way is not, however, condemned; rather, it was approved by the Prophet himself. At-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim and At-Tabarani reported that Saffiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “ Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, entered my room while I was making Tasbeeh using four thousand small stones. He asked: “ What is this, O daughter of Huyayy?” “I use them for remembering Allah?” I replied. He commented: “Since I have entered your room, I’ve made Tasbeeh greater in number than this.” I said: “ teach me, o Messenger of Allah!” He said: “ Say ‘Glory be to Allah equal to the number of every thing He created.”
In the chapter entitled “Asceticism” Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Ad- Dardaa’ had a number of date stones in sack. After performing Morning Prayer, he would take them out to use them for making Tasbeeh.
At any rate, I am to say that since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Use your fingertips (to count the utterances of remembering Allah) for they well be witness for you (on the Day of Resurrection)”, and normally man use his fingertips to move the stones used for making Tasbeeh, in this way, they witness the deed and will act as such on the Day of Resurrection.
It is in no way permissible to brand any act as bid ‘ah (innovation) just because that particular act did not exist during the Prophet’s lifetime. Disagreement over misbahah (beads) should not also be a cause of conflict. Better than this, let’s stick to sincerity while remembering Allah, for it is the acts of the hearts that count in the sight of Almighty Allah.
Allah Almighty knows best.
ANSWER; Sheikh 'Atiyyah Saqr
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
First of all, we’d like to thank you for the great confidence you have in us and we pray to Allah Almighty to guide us all.
As for what has been narrated about Ibn Mas’ood’s prohibition of using stones in Tasbeeh, it is true. But did he mean the prohibition of using stones in particular or gathering for making Dhikr (remembering Allah) on the way mentioned in the narration, or he meant both? Anyhow, this reflected Ibn Masood’s great keenness on adhering to Sunnah. Now, is there anything in Sunnah that prevents using beads in Tasbeeh?
To get this clear, please read the following fatwa issued by Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee:
At the advent of Islam, people were commanded to frequently remember Allah in the same way they were ordered to observe all other rituals and acts of worship. Remembering Allah (Dhikr) is mentioned in many places in the Glorious Qur’an, such as the verse that reads: “Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.”(Al-‘Imraan:191) and the other verse that states: “O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify Him early and late.”(Al-Ahzaab: 41,42)
Many Hadiths have defined the number and the time of remembering Almighty Allah, as is the case with the thirty three utterances of glorifying Allah, praising Him 33 times and the thirty three utterances of “Allah is Great” as well as reiterating the words “There is no god but Allah”, which represents the completion of the hundredth number of uttering words that signify Allah’s remembrance. This is the act a Muslim is urged to do right after prayer.
As we know, in the course of this act of remembering Allah, a person may be in need of something that reminds him of the number of the utterances he has made.
It is well known that the Prophet, peace and blessings of be upon him, used to count the number of utterances using his fingertips. This is reported by Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim. The Prophet’s Companions also directed us to use fingertips for counting the number of utterances. Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim reported that Busrah, who was one of the female migrants, said that the Messenger of Allah said: “You are to stick to praising Allah, glorifying and exalting Him. Never relapse into heedlessness, lest you deviate from the true creed of monotheism. Use your fingertips (to count the utterances of remembering Allah) for they well be witness for you (on the Day of Resurrection).”
However, this command does not make it the only way for counting. It is a fact that using the fingertips gives the sense of following the Prophet’s example. Using any other way is not, however, condemned; rather, it was approved by the Prophet himself. At-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim and At-Tabarani reported that Saffiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “ Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, entered my room while I was making Tasbeeh using four thousand small stones. He asked: “ What is this, O daughter of Huyayy?” “I use them for remembering Allah?” I replied. He commented: “Since I have entered your room, I’ve made Tasbeeh greater in number than this.” I said: “ teach me, o Messenger of Allah!” He said: “ Say ‘Glory be to Allah equal to the number of every thing He created.”
In the chapter entitled “Asceticism” Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Ad- Dardaa’ had a number of date stones in sack. After performing Morning Prayer, he would take them out to use them for making Tasbeeh.
At any rate, I am to say that since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Use your fingertips (to count the utterances of remembering Allah) for they well be witness for you (on the Day of Resurrection)”, and normally man use his fingertips to move the stones used for making Tasbeeh, in this way, they witness the deed and will act as such on the Day of Resurrection.
It is in no way permissible to brand any act as bid ‘ah (innovation) just because that particular act did not exist during the Prophet’s lifetime. Disagreement over misbahah (beads) should not also be a cause of conflict. Better than this, let’s stick to sincerity while remembering Allah, for it is the acts of the hearts that count in the sight of Almighty Allah.
Allah Almighty knows best.