Many religious traditions use prayer beads.  Catholics have the rosary.  Buddhists and Hindus use Mala beads.  Sufis and Muslims use a misbaha or tasbih.  They are traditionally used for keeping count of the number repetitions said of short prayers, Qualities, or other devotionals. I have been taught that prayer beads do more than that both energetically and spiritually.

Sufi prayer beads are generally 99 beads with 1 bead that is usually larger and different from the rest for a total of 100 beads.  The 99 each represent one of the 99 Qualities of Allah and the 1 bead that is larger is for Allah.  Some smaller prayer beads have only 33 beads for the Qualities and 1 bead for Allah.

To best use your prayer beads, first set your intention.  Next, I usually begin with the Fatiha.  Then I use my thumb to move to the first bead and softly say the prayer, phrase, or Quality that I working with today.  The prayer, phrase, or Quality can be said out loud, whispered, or silently in your heart.  Then move to the second bead, and say then next prayer, phrase, or Quality.  When doing prayer sets that require a 1,000 repetitions, I have a second set of beads with only 10 beads on it.  The last bead on one end is a different color than the rest so I can keep track of which end I started at.  When I finish 1 round of 100 prayers on my misbaha, I can move one bead on the smaller set of 10.

Some believe that because the beads are all connected in a circle, it is symbolic the interconnectedness of all.

When you use the same set of beads over and over again in prayer, the beads begin to become infused with the energy of the prayers.  They no longer are just a means of counting. They begin to transmit or emanate the energy or essence of the prayers.  The prayer beads that I use have been blessed by my guide, Sidi Muhammad.  I use them a lot in my healing practice.  I believe that they help to bring the 99 Qualities into the energy transmitted to the person I am working with, and also help to clear the darkness or illusions that the person is carrying.

Some people find working with their beads to be very grounding, so they will get them out and begin using them as a means to calm themselves.  I have a set where the beads are very small so I can easily carry it in my purse in a little pouch.  When I have appointments where I have to sit and wait, I will pull out my beads to help fill the time.

Prayer beads that have been blessed by my guide, Sidi Muhammad can be purchased through SufiGifts.com

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