Tasbeeh necklaces: pearls that relieve stress

 -Nishad P.

 When you visit the Gulf, you may notice a pearl necklace that is always found in the hands of Arabs.  They come in different lengths and colors.  Some will be clear and simple in design.  Others can be very beautiful and expensive.

 Tasbeeh - Islamic Prayer Wreaths.

 Many religions, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism, have traditions of prayer garlands.  Buddhists call it "Mala".  Catholics call it the Rosary.

 In Islam, known as 'tasbeeh' or 'misbaha', they are commonly used to mark repetitions of prayers or other ritual recitations.

 In general, Muslims use the tasbeeh of ninety-nine pearls.  It symbolizes the ninety-nine names of God.  In the necklace of Buddhists, there are 108 pearls.

 The prayer that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave as a gift to his daughter Fatima is known as the Tasbeeh of Fatima.  They are recited thirty-three times a day (Praise be to God), 'SubhanAllah' (Praise be to God), 'Alhamdulillah' (Praise be to God), and 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Greatest), respectively, after the five daily prayers.

 Muslims count the number of pearls they count with their thumb and forefinger.  If it is a small tasbeeh made of thirty-three pearls like the one used by most people today, it is considered as three times as much.

 It is a fact that tasbeeh necklaces help in reducing stress.  It has been used in Turkey for a long time.  (Tasbeeh is said to have helped the seventh Ottoman Sultan Fatih Mohammed during his famous Battle of Constantinople to build the war tactics that led to his victory.  The sultan was in a state of mental distress as all the avenues were closed and he could not devise any new tactics.  This was a great battle for the Sultan, whose warships could not move forward  It was the same.  Instead of sailing through the sea, they sailed through the mountains.  The sultan approached the fort and conquered Sultan Constantinople by placing sticks on the ground like pearls and oiling them on top of them.

 The materials used to make these are also different.  Wood, bone, amber, gold, silver and many other precious stones are used for this purpose.

 According to artisans, one of the most popular materials is amber, a stone tree resin.  This is because some believe that they have healing properties and that their orange color and softness have the potential to make people fall in love.

 Tasbeeh made of ebony is used for those who want to get rid of stress.  Pearls made with agarwood are also popular because of its fragrance.

 Construction of Tasbeeh

 Tasbeeh pearls are made using a small cutting machine.  They are simple but capable of making such small objects to the required configuration.  These sewing machines are generally made by artisans.

 First, each part of the selected material is pierced and cut into the desired shape.  Beads come in many shapes and sizes, from spherical, elliptical, flat spherical, to the shape of gemstones, to the shape of a submarine circle.

 Craftsmen make one hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty pearls for a tasbeeh that comes in ninety-nine beads.  The most suitable of them are then selected and the rest is taken into the making of the thirty-three beaded tasbeeh.  Making holes in them is one of the most difficult things.  More skill is needed to make the hole better.

 Then the other parts (Nisane) will be manufactured.  It consists of a disc marking every thirty - three pearls, a small bead marking the seventh position, an elongated piece (imame) marking the head of the tasbeeh, and a head flower at its end.  All these parts must be in harmony with each other.

 The best tasbeeh consists of pearls of equal size.  However, some pearls are classified according to size, from large to small.  In the past, these were tied with silk thread.  Today, however, dyed nylon threads are the most commonly used.  The final job is to attach the beads to the bands.  The inscriptions can be engraved or otherwise decorated, and before being tied together, a powder is attached.

 A hand-made tasbeeh takes at least three days to complete.  Some models can take months to complete.  Tasbeeh artisans say that their psychology or state of mind is crucial during this process.  The importance and love they place in the construction of Tasbih is another thing that sets them apart.

 It is an art that requires a lot of patience.  As a result, the number of artisans today is much lower than it was fifty years ago.  Yet many are also encouraging the sale of cheaper plastic versions instead of handcrafted tasbeehs to keep the business afloat.  But, surprisingly, some of the most valuable tasbeehs are very simple.  Similarly, the tasbeeh in the eyes of a group of people is not just a piece of jewelery.  Rather, it is a part of their lives for them.

 Tasbeeh making was one of the most important handicrafts in Turkey during the Ottoman rule.  Turkey is still one of the most beautiful countries in the world for making tasbeehs.  They used cutting machines called Kemane.  By 1965, however, the construction of the tasbeeh had been modernized and electric-computerized slot machines had been introduced.  According to artisans, this reduced the skill of the craftsmen.

 If you want a meaningful gift to give to your loved ones, why not give a handmade tasbeeh gift?