[4/ 49] The prophet ( - ) used to recite Tasb?h using his [right hand] fingers.
Abdull?h Ibn Amr said: ‘I saw the prophet ( - ) recite his Tasb?h using his right hand’. (1)
Accordingly, reciting Tasb?h using one’s right hand is much better than doing it with the left or both hands and also better than using the rosary for using the latter contradicts the prophet’s ( - ) order. He ( - ) addressed a group of women saying: ‘Recite Tasb?h, Tahl?l, Taqd?s and never forget Tawh?d -In other narration: [and ask All?h’s ( - )] Rahmah- and use your fingers to do so for they will be called to account and testify [for you]’. (2)
Regarding the point of using the rosary in Tasb?h, Shaikh Ibn Baz said: ‘It is better to leave it for some of the well-versed scholars detested using it, using one’s fingers is much better for the prophet ( - ) used to do so’. (3)
I believe that the Shaikh’s ruling is true specially after doing Sal?t for the prophet ( - ) ordered muslims to use their fingers for they will be called to account and will testify.
Shaikh Al-Alb?n? said: ‘Suffice it to say that using the rosary caused -or about to cause- the disappearance of one of the prophet’s ( - ) Sunnah which is using one’s fingers, taking into consideration that the ‘Ulamah agreed that the Sunnah is much more better’. (4)
(1) Narrated by: Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (no. 1502), At-Trimith? in “Al-J?mi‘” (no. 3486), Al-H?kim in his “Al-Mustadrak” (vol. 1 / p. 547) and Al-Baihaq? in “As-Sunnan Al-Kubr?” (vol. 2 / p. 253). The had?th’s chain of narrators is authentic. Ath-Thahab? considered the had?th to be authentic and At-Tirmith? considered it a good one.
(2) Narrated by: Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (no. 1501) and other scholars. Al-H?kim considered the had?th authentic and so did Ath-Thahab?. Both An-Nawaw? and Al-‘Asqal?n? considered it a good one. A narration traced back to ‘Aishah supports it -as mentioned by Al-Alb?bn? in his “Silsilat Al-Ah?d?th Ad-Da‘?fah Wal Mawd?‘?h” (vol. 1 / p. 112).
(3) “Al-Fat?w?” (vol. 1 / p. 76).
(4) “Silsilat Al-Ah?d?th Ad-Da‘?fah Wal Mawd?‘?h” (vol. 1 / p. 117). The Shaikh discussed this issue in details, pay heed to his words.