AMisbaha(Arabic:مِسْبَحَة,romanized:misbaḥa),subḥa(Arabic:سُبْحَة) (Arabic andUrdu),tusbaḥ(Somali),tasbīḥ(Arabic:تَسْبِيح) (Iran,India,Afghanistan,Tajikistan,Bangladesh,Pakistan,MalaysiaandIndonesia), ortespih(Turkish,BosnianandAlbanian) isprayer beadsoften used byMuslimsfor thetasbih,the recitation ofprayers,thedhikr,as well as to glorifyAllah.[1]It is similar to theJapamalaused inHinduism,Jainism,Sikhism,andBuddhism,and theRosaryinCatholicism.
Use
editA misbaḥah is a tool that is used as an aid to performdhikr,including thenames of God in Islam,and afterregular prayer.[1]It is often made ofwoodenorplasticbeads, but also ofoliveseeds,ivory,pearls,and semi-precious stones such ascarnelian,onyx,andamber.
A typical misbahah consists of three groups of beads, separated by two distinct beads (calledimāms) along with one larger piece (called theyad) to serve as the handle.[2]The exact number may vary, but they usually consist of 99 beads to assist in the glorification of God following prayers: 33Tasbeeh(subhāna-llāh ), 33Tahmeed(ʾal-ḥamdu li-llāh), and 34Takbeer(ʾAllāhu ʾakbar). Some suggest the 99 beads also refer to the99 names of Allah.Smaller misbahas consist of 33 beads, in which case one cycles through them three times to complete 99. However, misbahas may also consist of 100 or 200-count beads to assist in thedhikrduties of certainSufi orders.
It is often carried by pilgrims,dervishes,and many ordinary Muslims of all groups, however some consider it heretical innovation (bid'ah) and only allow dhikrs to be counted on the fingers.[2]Many Shi'is use beads made from clay fromKarbala,sometimes colored red in memory of the martyredImam Husayn's blood or green in memory of his brotherHasan(who supposedly turned green from poisoning).[2]
Misbahahs are also used culturally toreduce stressor as an indication of status in society.
History
editIn the early Muslim era, prayers were counted on fingers or with pebbles.
According to the 17th-century Shia cleric ʻAllāmahMuhammad Baqir Majlisi,after the 625CEBattle of Uḥud,Fāṭimah(the daughter ofMuhammad) would visit the Martyrs' graveyard every two or three days, and then made a misbaḥah ofḤamzah ibn ʻAbd al-Muṭṭalib'sgrave-soil. After that, people started making and usingmisbaḥahs.[citation needed]
Somehadithsstate the benefit of using the fingers of the right hand to count tasbīḥ following regular prayers.[3]
The practice of using misbahahs most likely originated amongSufisand poor people.[2]Opposition to the practice is known from as late as the 15th century, whenal-Suyutiwrote anapologiafor it.[2]
See also
editGallery
edit-
Misbaha, dated 1909 (1327 AH) -
Blue Misbaha -
Colorful Misbaha -
Tasbih of Silver -
Istanbul Prayer beads museum Portrait painted beads -
Istanbul Prayer beads museum Amberoid beads
Citations
edit- ^abNetton, Ian Richard (2013-12-19).Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilization and Religion.Routledge.ISBN9781135179670.
- ^abcdeWensinck, A.J. (1997). "SUBḤA". In Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P.; Lecomte, G. (eds.).The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. IX (SAN-SZE)(PDF).Leiden: Brill. pp. 741=2.ISBN90-04-10422-4.Retrieved18 May2022.
- ^ Narrated Yusayrah, mother of Yasir: The Prophet (saw) commanded them (the women emigrants) to be regular (in rememberingAllahby saying): "Allah is most great"; "Glory be to the King, the Holy"; "there is no god but Allah"; and that they should count them on fingers, for they (the fingers) will be questioned and asked to speak. (Book #8, Hadith #1496)
Bibliography
edit- Dubin, Lois Sherr (2009). "Prayer Beads".The History of Beads: From 100,000 B.C. to the Present(Rev. and expanded ed.). New York: Abrams. pp.79–92.ISBN9780810951747.
- Henry, Gray; Marriott, Susannah (2008).Beads of Faith: Pathways to Meditation and Spirituality Using Rosaries, Prayer Beads and Sacred Words.Louisville, Ky.: Fons Vitae.ISBN9781887752954.
- Majlesi, Mohammad Baqer.Biḥār al-Anwār(in Arabic). Vol. 110. pp. 133, 64.
- Untracht, Oppi (2008). "Rosaries of India".Traditional Jewelry of India.New York: Thames & Hudson. pp.69–73.ISBN9780500287491.
- Wiley, Eleanor; Shannon, Maggie Oman (2002).A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads.Boston: Red Wheel/Weiser.ISBN1590030109.
