Misbaha: Difference between revisions

'''Misbaḥa''' (Arabic: مسبحة), or '''Subḥa''' (Arabic: سبحة), or '''prayer beads''' is a string of beads made of materials such as wood and stone. Prayer beads was being used as a tool for counting numbers, recites, etc. but over time and by development of societies, usage of prayer beads as a tool became less and it gained a more religious characteristics. In many religions a form of prayer beads is used for counting recites.

[[Shi'a]] believes that, [[Lady Fatima (a)]] was the first to use "Misbaha" in [[Islam]]. Among Shi'a, following lady Fatima (a), Misbaha has a great spiritual value especially when made from [[Turba of Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. Reciting the [[Tasbih of Lady Fatima (a)]] after [[prayers]] and [[istikhara]] are two of its applications.

Some believe that Misbaha (prayer beads) entered [[Islam]] from Indian Buddhists. Some other, believe that Misbaha came to Islam from Christians.

Counting [[supplication]] and [[Dhikr]] with Misbaha is usual among Muslims, except [[Wahhabis]] who consider using Misbaha as a [[Bid'a]] (innovation) in Islam and use fingers instead.

There's various narrations about using Misbaha among [[Sunni]]s: some [[Sunni]] [[hadith]] books recommend carrying of a Misbaha to Muslims and also mention that [[the Prophet (s)]] was using Misbaha. There's also other narrations from the Prophet (s) which blames usage of Misbaha.

[[Shi'a]]s believe that [[Lady Fatima (a)]] was one of the first to use Misbaha and was using a string with 34 knots on it for saying [[Tasbih]] after prayers ([[Tasbih of Lady Fatima (a)]]). Later, she made a clay Misbaha from soil of grave of [[Hamza]], the uncle of the Prophet (s). Following Lady "Fatima" (a), Shi'as make "Misbaha" from [[Turba of Imam al-Husayn (a)]], for blessing, known as ''Turba Misbaha''.

The most important application of Misbaha is countnig [[Dhikr]] and Muslims put Misbaha in their [[prayer mat]] so they can say Dhikr after or between prayers; so usually pilgrims of [[holy places]] bring [[tablet]] and Misbaha blessed by the shrines as souvenirs.

Misbaha, is also used for [[Istikhara]].

[[Isma'ilia Khuja]]s in [[India]] use Misbaha in some of their religious activities and rituals, including Dhikr for Shah Gharib Mirza and supplication for Aqa Khan.

Misbaha usually have 101 beads, in three parts of 33 beads, with two beads dividing the three parts, in accordance with [[Tasbih of Lady Fatima (a)]]. There's also ''Misbahas'' with 25, 33, 34 beads.

Some [[Sufi]]s use Misbaha with 1000 beads which is used in burials; they turn it 3 times and each time say [[La Ilah Illa Allah]] 1000 times.

* Tassel: tassel is made of many short strings, knotted to main string of Misbaha.

* "Dasta": a bead, larger than other beads, with conical or cylindrical shape, between the tassel and other beads of Misbaha. It's also called ''Yad'' and ''Mihrab''.

* "'Adasak": two beads with a shape of lentil which are smaller than other beads, and sometimes made from a material other than other beads. The two "'Adasaks" divide Misbaha into three parts.

Misbaha is made of different materials:

* Clay: usually made of [[Turba of Imam al-Husayn (a)]].

* Precious stones like agate, Jasper, ruby, etc. One of precious stones which is used very much in making Misbaha is ''Shah Maqsud'' (tourmaline) extracted from mines in [[Afghanistan]]; [[Yemen]]i agate could also be mentioned.

==External Links==

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AD_(%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%87) تسبیح] in Farsi Wikishia.