ASSALAMU-ALAIKUM
Dear brothers & sisters in Islam
It's a common sight in the Indian sub-continent to see elderly men and women (both young & old in Saudi Arabia) carrying rosaries (tasbeeh) to recite some divine words, no matter which faith (Islam, Hinduism & christianity) the individual belongs to!
But as Muslims, have we ever pondered if its an act encouraged by the Holy Prophet (PEACE BE UPON HIM)?
Well, its high time we reflect each & every act of ours in our daily lives with reference to the Quran & the Sunnah (meaning the Prophet's(PBUH) way).
Allah says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 8 Verse 20
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him (i.e. Messenger Muhammad SAW) while you are hearing”.
Now coming to the point of using tasbeeh, the question arises as to “IS IT PERMISSIBLE OR NOT? ”
If you look at the website of Encyclopedia Britannica or Wikipedia for the term 'Rosary', you will be shocked to see that the roots of the term are linked to a
particular faith, namely 'Christianity' & not 'Islam'. Please visit the following links for more information.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/509670/rosary (usage by Muslims is mentioned in the last line)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary (one link called 'Tasbeeh' given at the bottom of the page)
Well, now, let’s see what our Holy Prophet (PBUH) has to say about it:
Narrated Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas:
Once Sa'd, with the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him), visited a woman in front of whom were some date-stones or pebbles which she was using as a rosary to glorify Allah. He (the Prophet) said: I tell you something which would be easier (or more excellent) for you than that. He said (it consisted of saying): "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created in Heaven; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created on Earth; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He has created between them; "Glory be to Allah" as many times as the number of that which He is creating; "Allah is most great" a similar number of times; "Praise (be to Allah)" a similar number of times; and "There is no god but Allah" a similar number of times; "There is no might and no power except in Allah" a similar number of times. (Abu Dawud, Book 8, Hadith 1495)
So, from the above hadith it's evident that the Holy Prophet (PBUH), who is our ROLE MODEL, has recommended something better for us.
Allah says in the Holy Quran, Chapter 33 Verse 21
21. “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much. ”
You can find some additional information by visiting the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=100285034878&topic=21395
So its better to count using your right hand as recommended by our 'ROLE MODEL' - The Holy Prophet (PBUH) rather than using the Tasbeeh, the usage of which has no base in the Quran & Sunnah.
If any of the above is correct as per Quran and Sunnah, it’s from ALLAH and His Messenger(PBUH).
If any of the above is wrong, its from me.
And ALLAH knows best.
May ALLAH guide all of us on the right path.
