Using Beads or electric counter for tasbeeh is a bidah ?

Praise be to Allah

Summary : Using beads 📿 (tasbeeh) or a misbah to count dhikr is permissible in Islam. It is neither a Sunnah nor a bid’ah. The Sunnah is to count dhikr on fingers, and it is recommended.

Detailed  Answer:

Using beads 📿 (tasbeeh) or a misbah to count dhikr is permissible in Islam. It is neither a Sunnah nor a bid’ah.

Hadith Reference:

• Riyad as-Salihin 1442: Sa’d bin Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I went to see a woman who had date stones or pebbles in front of her, and she was counting and reciting tasbih (‘Subhan-Allah’ – Allah is free from imperfection). He (ﷺ) said, “Shall I not inform you of what is easier or better than this for you? You should say: ‘Subhan-Allahi ‘adada ma khalaqa fis-sama’, wa subhan-Allahi ‘adada ma khalaqa fil-ardi, wa subhan-Allahi ‘adada ma baina dhalika, wa subhan-Allahi ‘adada ma Huwa Khaliqun, wallahu Akbaru mithla dhalika, wal-hamdu lillahi mithla dhalika, wa la ilaha illallahu mithla dhalika, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi mithla dhalika (Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of what He created in the heavens; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of His creatures on earth; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number in between them; and Subhan-Allah equal to the number of those He will create).’ Then say: ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is Greatest) in the same way. Then say: ‘Al-hamdu lillah’ (praise be to Allah) in the same way. Then say: ‘La ilaha illallah’ (there is no true god except Allah) in the same way. Then say: ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ (there is no change of condition nor power except by Allah) in the same manner.”

The Sunnah is to count dhikr on fingers, and it is recommended.

Additional Hadith References:

• Sunan an-Nasa’i 1355: ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) counting tasbih on his fingers.”
• Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3583: Yusayrah bint Yasir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “You must glorify Allah, declare the oneness and holiness of Allah. Count them on your fingers. Verily, the fingers will be questioned and made to speak. Do not be neglectful, such that you forget the mercy of Allah.”

References:

• Muhammad Salah: Link
• Sheikh Assim: Link

And Allah Knows Best