Editing Misbaha

{{Short description|Muslim prayer beads}}
{{distinguish|Misbah|Msabbaha}}
[[File:Masbaha.jpg|thumbnail|right|A black misbaha]]
{{wikt | misbaha}}

A '''''misbaha''''' ({{langx|ar|مِسْبَحَة|misbaḥa}}), '''''subḥa''''' ({{langx|ar|سُبْحَة|links=no}}) (Arabic and [[Urdu]]), '''''tusbaḥ''''' ([[Somali language|Somali]]), '''''tasbīḥ''''' ({{langx|ar|تَسْبِيح|links=no}}) ([[Iran]], [[India]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], [[Malaysia]] and [[Indonesia]]), or '''''tespih''''' ([[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] and [[Albanian language|Albanian]]) is a set of [[prayer beads]] often used by [[Muslims]] for the {{lang | ar | [[tasbih]]}}, the recitation of [[prayer]]s (the {{lang | ar | [[dhikr]]}}), as well as to glorify [[Allah]].<ref name="Netton">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J6JlAgAAQBAJ&q=misbaha&pg=PT554 |title=Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilization and Religion |last=Netton |first=Ian Richard |date=2013-12-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135179670 |language=en}}</ref> It resembles the ''[[japamala]]'' used in [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Sikhism]], and [[Buddhism]], or the [[rosary]] used in [[Catholicism]].

==Use==
A misbaḥah is a tool that is used as an aid to perform [[dhikr]], including the [[names of God in Islam]], and after [[namaz|regular prayer]].<ref name="Netton"/> It is often made of [[wood]]en or [[plastic]] beads, but also of [[olive]] seeds, [[ivory]], [[pearl]]s, and semi-precious stones such as [[carnelian]], [[onyx]], and [[amber]]. 

A typical misbahah consists of three groups of beads, separated by two distinct beads (called ''imām''s) along with one larger piece (called the ''yad'') to serve as the handle.<ref name="Wensinck 1997"/> The exact number may vary, but they usually consist of 99 beads to assist in the glorification of God following prayers: 33 [[Subhan Allah|Tasbeeh]] (subhāna-llāh ), 33 [[Alhamdulillah|Tahmeed]] (ʾal-ḥamdu li-llāh), and 34 [[Takbir|Takbeer]] (ʾAllāhu ʾakbar). Some suggest the 99 beads also refer to the [[99 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 the [[dhikr]] duties of certain [[Sufi order]]s.

It is often carried by pilgrims, [[dervish]]es, 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.<ref name="Wensinck 1997">{{cite book |last1=Wensinck |first1=A.J. |editor1-last=Bosworth |editor1-first=C.E. |editor2-last=van Donzel |editor2-first=E. |editor3-last=Heinrichs |editor3-first=W.P. |editor4-last=Lecomte |editor4-first=G. |title=The Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. IX (SAN-SZE) |date=1997 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |isbn=90-04-10422-4 |pages=741=2 |url=https://ia600603.us.archive.org/14/items/EncyclopaediaDictionaryIslamMuslimWorldEtcGibbKramerScholars.13/09.EncycIslam.NewEdPrepNumLeadOrient.EdEdComCon.BosDonHeinLec.etc.UndPatIUA.v9.San-Sze.Leid.EJBrill.1997..pdf |access-date=18 May 2022 |chapter=SUBḤA}}</ref> Many Shi'is use beads made from clay from [[Karbala]], sometimes colored red in memory of the martyred [[Imam Husayn]]'s blood or green in memory of his brother [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hasan]] (who supposedly turned green from poisoning).<ref name="Wensinck 1997"/>

Misbahahs are also used culturally to [[worry beads|reduce stress]] or as an indication of status in society.

[[File:Qur'an and tespih.jpg|250px|thumbnail|Qurʾan and Misbaha]]

==History==
In the early Muslim era, prayers were counted on fingers or with pebbles.

According to the 17th-century [[Shia]] cleric ʻ[[Allamah|Allāmah]] [[Muhammad Baqir Majlisi]], after the 625CE [[Battle of Uhud|Battle of Uḥud]], [[Fatimah bint Muhammad|Fāṭimah]] (the daughter of [[Muhammad]]) would visit the Martyrs' graveyard every two or three days, and then made a misbaḥah of [[Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib|Ḥamzah ibn ʻAbd al-Muṭṭalib's]] grave-soil. After that, people started making and using ''misbaḥahs''.{{Citation needed|date= December 2008}}

Some ''[[hadiths]]'' state the benefit of using the fingers of the right hand to count tasbīḥ following regular prayers.<ref>
Narrated Yusayrah, mother of Yasir: The Prophet (saw) commanded them (the women emigrants) to be regular (in remembering [[Allah]] by 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)
</ref>

The practice of using misbahahs most likely originated among [[Sufi]]s and poor people.<ref name="Wensinck 1997"/> Opposition to the practice is known from as late as the 15th century, when [[al-Suyuti]] wrote an ''[[apologia]]'' for it.<ref name="Wensinck 1997"/>

==Misbaha of Fatima Al-Zahra==
The Mesbaha of [[Fatimah|Fatima Al-Zahra]], is recommended among Muslims, especially [[Shiite]] (Shia) sect of Islam. The Tasbih of Zahra is as follows: Allahu Akbar is recited 34 times, Alhamdulillah is recited 33 times, and Subhan Allah is recited 33 times. [[Muhammad ibn Abdullah]] taught this dhikr to his daughter (Fatima Al-Zahra).<ref>[https://www.imna.ir/news/704375/%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B3-%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B6%DB%8C%D9%84%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%86%DB%8C تسبیحات حضرت زهرا (س) + زیارت، فضیلت برای حاجت و معنی Tasbih of Hazrat Zahra (peace be upon her) + Ziarat, virtues based on need and meaning]</ref>

==See also==

* [[Prayer beads]]
** [[Rosary]]
** [[Prayer rope]]
** [[Kombolói]]
** [[Japamala]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Tasbih1924.jpg|Misbaha, dated 1909 (1327 AH)
File:Tespih (fcm).jpg|Blue Misbaha
File:Big and small of it (306438345).jpg|Colorful Misbaha
File:Tasbih of Silver.JPG|Tasbih of Silver
File:Istanbul Prayer beads museum dec 2018 0340b.jpg|Istanbul Prayer beads museum Portrait painted beads
File:Istanbul Prayer beads museum dec 2018 0364.jpg|Istanbul Prayer beads museum Amberoid beads
</gallery>

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1=Dubin|first1=Lois Sherr|title=The History of Beads: From 100,000 B.C. to the Present|date=2009|publisher=Abrams|location=New York|pages=79–92|edition=Rev. and expanded|chapter=Prayer Beads|isbn=9780810951747}}
* {{cite book|last1=Henry|first1=Gray|last2=Marriott|first2=Susannah|title=Beads of Faith: Pathways to Meditation and Spirituality Using Rosaries, Prayer Beads and Sacred Words|date=2008|publisher=Fons Vitae|location=Louisville, Ky.|isbn=9781887752954}}
* {{cite book|last1=Majlesi|first1=Mohammad Baqer|author-link1=Muhammad Baqir Majlisi|title=[[Bihar al-Anwar|Biḥār al-Anwār]]|volume=110|pages=133, 64|language=Arabic}}
* {{cite book|last1=Untracht|first1=Oppi|title=Traditional Jewelry of India|date=2008|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=New York|pages=69–73|chapter=Rosaries of India|isbn=9780500287491}}
* {{cite book|last1=Wiley|first1=Eleanor|last2=Shannon|first2=Maggie Oman|title=A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads|date=2002|publisher=Red Wheel/Weiser|location=Boston|isbn=1590030109|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781590030103}}

==External links==
* [http://www.farsinet.com/tasbih/ History of the Tasbih in Iran]

{{Sufism terminology}}
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[[Category:Islamic culture]]
[[Category:Prayer beads]]
[[Category:Islamic terminology]]