Saudi Gazette report
DURING the holy month of Ramadan a variety of products related to religion such as prayer beads will be on display at shops and markets due to big demand.
Most people use prayer beads to keep a count on the number of chants they utter glorifying Allah but for some they make a fashion statement. Many pilgrims buy them to give to friends and relatives as gifts when they return home from the holy land.
Even after the technological advancement that offers electronic devices and mobile phone apps for the faithful to keep the count, people still prefer to use conventional rosaries, which they wear to embellish wrists.
Shop owners one up on each other to supply attractive prayer beads that cost anything from a few riyals to a whopping SR20,000 per set.
Saeed Jabir, a trader, said he has noticed big demand for rosaries during the fasting month as the faithful tend to use them increasingly during Ramadan. “It has become a mark of spirituality,” he said.
There are different types of prayer beads, depending on the material used to make them. Some are made of wood and plastic, which cost only a few riyals. But there are expensive ones made of amber and precious stones such as opal and coral that are priced at thousands of riyals.
The use of prayer beads as a tool of meditation is as old as human history. They are present in almost every culture. Prayer beads have physical, metaphysical and psychological affects on their users. The number of beads on a rosary varies depending on religion. Islamic prayer beads usually have 33 or 99 beads. Muslims roll them while saying Tasbih — repeating phrases such as Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) to glorify Allah.
During the Prophet’s times, date stones and pebbles were used, while in Ottoman times rock crystal beads with silver tassels were preferred.
Today, the number of artisans who make handmade prayer beads is very few. Craftsmen worked for months to make antique sets of prayer beads.
Rosaries made of
fragrant woods were kept in closed boxes to retain their fragrance. While materials to make prayer beads came from places as far away as Africa, India, Egypt or even
South America, the craftsmen in Makkah sold them to buyers throughout the Islamic world.
Ahmed Idris said prayer beads are closely linked with the religious sentiments of people.
“Sales shoot up during Ramadan because of the spiritual atmosphere prevalent throughout the month,” Idris told Al-Madinah daily.
He spoke about some distinguished prayer beads having attractive smells like the ones made of amber, which are priced SR120 to SR160 per set or SR1,000 per kg. A gram of these beads can cost as much as SR3.
“Prayer beads made of silver are sold at SR100 to SR120 per set,” Idris said. “Coral beads are quite expensive and sold at prices ranging from SR5,000 to SR20,000 a set,” he added.
Abdurraqib Muqbil, another trader, said locally-made prayer beads are sold in large numbers during Ramadan as they are available at affordable prices.
“These beads are either made of wood or plastic,” he said, adding that the main customers of cheap prayer beads are pilgrims who take them home for distributing among friends and neighbors as souvenirs from the holy land.
“There are Makkan and Egyptian types of prayer beads available in attractive forms and colors,” he added.
