Tasbi (prayer beads)
Strings of prayer beads are known as tasbi in Iran and here are some on sale in Tajrish bazaar. Most often they are seen dangling from the hands of middle- to old-aged men who tend to fiddle with them rather aimlessly.
However, for devout grandmothers, they are indispensable tools for tallying the number of prayers required to get a grandson into university or a sister out of her sickbed.
More on Tasbi(h)
Tasbih beads, also called misbaha or subha, are prayer beads used by Muslims to count recitations of praise and remembrance (dhikr) for Allah, helping to maintain focus and enhance spiritual connection during devotion. Typically featuring 99 beads (or 33, cycled three times), they are used to count phrases like "Subhan Allah" (Glory be to God) or "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to God), and often include a leader bead (imame) and a tassel.
