Prayer Beads? (Dhikr Beads)

Ash-Shaykh Dr. Abdul-'Azeez Al-Fawzaan discusses the ruling regarding using 

 

Question: Umm 'Abdir-Rahman Al-Britaaniyyah (a British woman) asks two questions. The first is the ruling regarding using al-Misbahah (Thikr beads) in order to make Thikr (words to remember Allah).

Answer: There is no problem with that. It is permissible to use them, regardless of whether that is for having them with you or actually using them for Tasbeeh (saying Subhanallah; words to glorify and remember Allah), there is no harm in that. The basic ruling regarding that is permissibility. However, what is best and what is Sunnah is to make Tasbeeh with the two hands. And also between the two hands the right hand is better for glorifying Allah than the left, but to use both hands, there's no problem with that - meaning using both hands together to make Thikr. And the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), as is confirmed from him in the authentic hadeeth, he used to count the the words of Tasbeeh on his hand (i.e. his fingers) - peace and blessing be upon him. So this is the Sunnah.

Then, also my brother, if you count the words of Tasbeeh on your fingers, your hand will testify for you tomorrow (i.e. on the Day of Judgment) however much Tasbeeh you did using them. So this is what is preferred and most perfect. However, if it happens to be that a person says, "By Allah, I always forget or loose count, or maybe I end up counting less than the number I want on my hands and stop before I finish. And these beads that I use have 100 beads on the string, or 300, or whatever, and I use it to count my Tasbeeh." We say the basic ruling regarding that is that it is permissible. Even though it is contrary to the Sunnah. Yes.

Every person who Innovates is not called an Innovator.

Is Everyone who does an Innovation called an Innovator?

Sheikh Bin Baaz (Allah have mercy  on him) Said:

"The origins of this, is that whoever does an act of innovation is an innovator, this is the origin. However, if the person is ignorant, and if he were to know what he is doing is an innovation he would repent, we don’t call him an innovator. If he insists upon his innovation, he is called an innovator, according to his innovation. So the person who were to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet - صلى الله عليه وسلم-  for example, he would be called an innovator until he stops and repents. Or for the one who builds shrines upon the graves, or prays to them, or builds Masajid on them. Then in this case he would be an innovator. And things like this, they are Innovations that Allah made impermissible. The Prophet - صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Be aware of the newly invented matters, because every innovation is misguidance” and that which is similar to it in other ahadith where He - صلى الله عليه وسلم -  said “Whoever innovates into this Religion that which isn't from it, it will be rejected’, and that which is mention in the Khutbah on Friday by the Prophet - صلى الله عليه وسلم -, “As for what follows, the best speech is the speech of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophet - صلى الله عليه وسلم -, and the worst of Affairs are the newly invented matters, every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is in the hell fire.” 

So the Muslim should follow the order of the Prophet Muhammad - صلى الله عليه وسلم -, be careful of Innovations. So the people of innovators are those who continue in innovation, (Knowing it’s an innovation) until they repent for it to Allah. So the ignorant knows, whoever seeks Allahs forgiveness, Allah will forgive him."

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http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/10701