Muslim prayer beads
A practical guide to Muslim prayer beads. What they are called (tasbih, misbaha, subha), how many beads they have, what they are used for, and how a digital counter compares.
Why 99 beads
The most common Muslim prayer beads have 99 beads, one for each of the 99 Names of Allah reported in the well-known hadith. Some strings are divided by two markers into three sections of 33, so the same string can be used for the 33·33·34 Tasbih Fatimah pattern after every prescribed prayer.
How to use Muslim prayer beads
- Hold the string in your right hand.
- Start from the marker bead nearest the tassel.
- Say your chosen dhikr once per bead. Move one bead with your thumb.
- When you reach the next marker (or the end), you have counted 33 or 99.
Are prayer beads required?
No. Counting on the fingers of the right hand is reported from the Prophet (Sunan Abi Dawud 1502) and is one valid method. Beads are a tool that many Muslims find helpful. So is a digital counter.
Frequently asked
What is a misbaha?
Misbaha is the Arabic word for a string of Muslim prayer beads. See our full misbaha guide.
How many beads does a Muslim rosary have?
Most commonly 99. Sometimes 33 or 100. The number matches the count of dhikr being repeated.
Are Muslim prayer beads the same as Christian rosary?
Similar tool, different practice. Muslim prayer beads count repetitions of dhikr; a Christian rosary structures a set of prayers. See our comparison.
Can I use a digital tasbih instead?
Yes. There is no rule against it. See is digital tasbih allowed.
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