Misbahah | Sunnah business

Bismillah.

I think any medium/tool that could anchor our heart and thoughts to Allah the Almighty, is good. I also think we have to be practical about our faith. Although the "Bid'ah Audit Committee" might not like the above picture. 

Misbahah is the correct Arabic term as opposed to tasbeeh, so I learned from a woman who is married to an Arab. Tasbeeh is arguably the most common name for the zikir beads. If you are an average, somewhat conservative Muslim like me, you would prefer the traditional wooden tasbeeh over the tally counter. I thought the latter lacks spirit and is just a mechanical calculator. In fact, I used to harbor a quiet protest towards zikir tally counters, until today when I visited the dentist.

Let's admit it, we all have our own strategies when visiting the dentist. We have our own secret formula on how to manage our nervousness, anxiety, and that misplaced loathing/hating the innocent dentists. Some of my own tried and tested strategies are as follows:

• Imagine the dentist is a very good looking guy [with due respect to the many experienced lady dentists who have treated me before]. 
• Scaling is painful no doubt, but think of it as getting rid of the bad words/little white lies which you might have uttered. Imagine harsh words can be as painful to people.
• Think dental treatment as a sunnah business. It's important because it is the basic foundation for one key sunnah - smile.
• Recite Ya Latif as much as possible, but it's easy to lose focus when pain kicks in, so that's when that tally counter matters. Trust me, it works. 

So that's a little tip for you. 

And if you happen to be a dentist, please avoid mentioning bombastic dental jargon like calculus to your ultra nervous patients. Yes it's a big word to us. Common terminologies like plaque, cavities and tartar are horrifying enough. Most people hated learning calculus in college and we don't need to know about dental calculus! And you may want to pray so that your patient keeps her/his mouth clean with zikir and kind words. Thanks doctor : D Allah bless all the noble professions out there. 

A tasbeeh and a smile - never leave home without them : )

p/s By the way, both tasbeeh and tally counter in the picture above, are gifts from Almarhum Shaykh Raja Ashman's events. Alhamdulillah. May Allah place his soul with the muqarabin. Ameen.