Tasbih
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Tasbih تسبيح (Arabic) is a string of Prayer beads probably of Persian origin which is traditionally used by Muslims and Sufis in prayer.
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[edit] Use
A tasbih is a tool used to perform dhikr, including the (99) Names of Allah and the glorification of God after regular prayer with the formulas Subhan Allah (sublime is God), Al-hamdulillah (praise to God) and Allahu Akbar (God is great/the Greatest), the first two repeated 33 times whilst the last 34 times.
It is often made of wooden beads, but also of olive seeds, ivory, pearls or plastic. A tasbih mostly exists of 33 or 99 beads, but you can also find samples of 11, 100, and up to 1,000 beads.
[edit] History
It is thought that in the early Muslim era loose pebbles were used or that people counted on their fingers, a practice that is still widely followed. Followers of wahhabism call it an intolerable innovation, as they believe that the Prophet Muhammad never used something like a tasbih, instead using the seeds from dates. Nevertheless, it is told that the Prophet Muhammad's close friend and first caliph Abu Bakr used a tasbih.
It is now also used by many as a fashion accessory or as something to keep one's hands busy.
It was also popular in Iran amongst Christians long before the coming of Islam.[citation needed]
[edit] Alternative Names
The Tasbih is also known as Mesbaha (مسبحة) or Sabha (سبحة) in some arabic dialects.
