The History and Culture of Worry Beads

Dr. Adhid Miri took this photo of a man selling worry beads in the citadel of Erbil.

“Worry beads are not jewelry, but a companion.”

By Dr. Adhid Miri

People have myriad assorted hobbies. They spend time and money on fulfilling them, taking care of whatever the hobby is, and developing it. Some people like music, art, drawing, reading, and sports of all kinds; others like hunting and fishing.

In Iraq and the Middle East, there is a popular hobby among men to acquire and use worry beads, also called Subha, Mala’aba, Misbaha, or Tasbih. They practice its use and cherish its secrets. Let us sail together in a sea of worry bead culture and abundance that we never thought would be this deep.

Worry beads are found in everyday life across the Middle East region and the world, but what is their significance?

Worry or prayer beads are used in many religions and cultures around the world, either to help with prayer and meditation or to simply keep the fingers occupied during times of stress. The traditional use of worry beads thrives in modern times as a tool for personal therapy, a status symbol, and a faithful companion.

Made from golden brown, amber, the brightest Iranian turquoise, Russian pure black coral, and a welcome burst of color amid a sea of gold, the subha or misbaha - prayer beads or worry beads or any one of the other names they go by in the Middle East - are found hanging proudly in the windows of jewelers in every shopping center.

Used when praying and influenced by Islam in their design, for many, the beads are a way to relax; to switch off from the world. Search through the crowd and you will see them, poking out of a pocket or wrapped loosely around a hand, their owner absent-mindedly moving each bead back and forth with their thumb. Search further, and you will find them dangling from the rear-view mirror of a vehicle.

But prayer beads go beyond prayer in some cultures. For example, in Greece, using worry beads is seen as a daily secular activity, as it is in Turkey. The beads have long made their way out of the mosques and churches in the region and have become a companion of men.

In Iraq they are called Subha or Mala’aba, Tasbih in Turkey, and Komboli in Greece. They can be found in almost every culture and religion are well-known all around the world. Catholic rosaries, the prayer rope of Orthodox churches, Mt. Carmel monk’s rosary, Irish marble worry stones, Buddhist, or Tibetan prayer beads (malas) are all examples of their use.

It is quite amazing how a string of beads can carry centuries of stories and bond people together culturally.

History

Since ancient times, worry beads have been associated with spiritual ideas, both religious and magical. Some recorded historical evidence indicates that the idea of ​​the beads began with the Sumerians 5,000 years ago and then moved to other civilizations.

One of the oldest stones and materials used by humans has been found in tombs dating back more than 20,000 years and contained grains of ivory, oysters, and various bones. Excavations of the first human civilizations that arose in Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley revealed the use of various stones for religious and worldly purposes, and for this reason the beads were taken in prehistoric times as an ornament, and amulet.

In Phoenician antiquities there is evidence of their use in barter and commercial transactions. The idea of ​​the Christian rosary, then, is a natural and inevitable evolution from the idea of ​​the necklace.

The historical evidence indicates that the religious rosary appeared for the first time in India at the beginning of the fifth century BC, and those sources claim that the God (Brahma) was carrying a rosary/worry beads with his right hand, as it appeared clearly in the drawings that were found.

Some history books state that the priests of China were the first to invent the rosary, and one of the accounts reported that a Greek monk named Father Wes de Ruby was the first ever to use the rosary.

Worry beads are commonly believed to have first been used on Mount Athos in northern Greece during medieval times, where strands of beads made of woolen knots were tied on a string and used as an aid to recount prayers.

Culture

The “Subha” is a wonderful artistic heritage that permeates ancient and modern Arab culture. The beads are used to relieve stress and generally pass the time. It also has functions that are closely related to numbers, counting and arithmetic. It is a personal adornment, social prestige, material wealth, a masterpiece, a home pride, a symbolic gift for family and friends, and a status symbol.

The beads have a long and amazing history, and incredible variety. There are basic categories in evaluating a Subha: the material used to make the worry beads; the number and size of the beads (if there is a piece of a slightly different size or texture, it is called a “drunk bead”); harmony of color and sound that the beads produce together; originality; and artisanship together with the strength of the top piece, called the Imame, Shahool, or Minaret. This is the piece that holds all the others together; it is the first sign of quality artisanship and charm.

Understandably, worry beads have long been a staple of desert commerce. Antique amber worry beads are particularly popular partly because amber beads were favored by kings and nobility.

Since Arabs associate the beads with idleness, some prominent figures avoid using them in public. Young people in general use the beads less than their elders. Traditional minded individuals use them, but young leftist intellectuals seem to prefer to smoke cigarettes.

They help pass time, they are part of prayer, and their use can become a habit to calm nerves or even to beat an addiction. In the era of iPods, smartphones, and tablets, you can still find them present in coffee houses of poor areas or executive offices of rich neighborhoods.

When you sit down at a cafe or a restaurant, briefly watch the men as they put down their cellphones, cigarette packages, lighters and worry beads. You may appreciate the love and the strong bond men feel for their Subha, keeping them as close as their phones.

At Chaldean weddings, the old-timers who lead the traditional Dabkka dance intertwine one hand and swing a Subha in the other during the rhythmic dance, encouraging others to strengthen their resolve and dance.

The number of worry-bead enthusiasts is increasing. Politicians such as Iraq’s famous Prime Minister Nouri Al-Saeed enjoyed posing with Tasbihs to connect with constituents. In Iraq, they can be seen in the hands of almost all men, from taxi drivers to college professors to domino players and coffee shop patrons. They can be seen in movie theaters and at soccer matches.

Men and their beads

Alas, the small strings of beads that Chaldeans, Iraqis, Arabs, and Middle Eastern people have long loved to fidget with are perhaps showing signs of going out of style - especially in the West.

The beads' decline has been hastened by special factors: cultural change, progress, handheld gadgets, and mobile devices that have taken over, even among the old. Nonetheless, shops remain impressively draped with worry beads, which come in as many varieties as the perfumes of Arabia.

The Subha remains as one of the complements of Iraqi men, an expression of prestige and social status. High-end and valuable types are used by the elders and influential people, and this type of bead reflects an expression of their social status and wealth.

Despite growing female interest in Tasbihs, they are still almost exclusively in the male domain. The artisans, designers, salespeople, and customers are almost all men. It is even seen as a sign of strong masculinity in different parts of the world.

It is unfortunate that many of the rare collections were sold outside Iraq, either due to the owner’s ignorance of their value or out of necessity during the years of sanctions.

Material

The traditional materials used to make worry beads continue to be used. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and its craft requires skill, know-how, and refined taste.

Subha beads are most often made of round or oval shaped glass, wood, plastic, amber, pearls, or gemstones. The origins of prayer bead material fall into four broad categories: precious stones, different types of wood, animal products, and fossils. The harder the material of the bead, or the rarer it is, the more intricate artisanship will be involved, increasing the value. Snakewood, olive, sandalwood, palm, tamarind, apple, and walnut trees are commonly used.

The cord is usually cotton, nylon, or silk. There are a wide variety of colors and styles on the market, ranging from cheap mass-produced prayer beads to those that are made with expensive materials and high-quality workmanship.

Most generic products use a silver bead for the Imame, but the precious ones use the same material as the beads. The last category is the simplicity factor. Intriguingly, the most precious Tasbihs are the least eye-catching ones. As one Tasbih lover explained, “it is not jewelry to show off, but a companion.”

Amber is considered the queen of Misbaha. Today, it’s difficult to find genuine beads. You must be very experienced to distinguish fake from genuine. Real amber, when rubbed between the thumb and forefinger, will give off the smell of pine-tree resin. Some sellers provide certificates of authenticity for amber beads.

A rosary made with pearls is one of the most expensive, made of precious pearls extracted from Bahrain or the Arabian Gulf. There are some types that are less expensive - such as some made in Japan for example – with pearls that are artificial and not natural.

There are health benefits attributed to the different materials used. For example, Kuka, a tropical fruit pit harder than coconut, was known as the Tasbih of medical doctors during the Ottoman era. The Kuka pits are known to act as a natural disinfectant, while releasing a pleasant scent when rolled between fingers. Several other tree-based beads are valued for their special scents. Their color also darkens over time, like leather, increasing their worth.

Bagh Tasbihs made from the shells of the threatened Caretta turtle are extremely precious, like those from elephant tusks. Other precious stones used include agate, dalmatian stone, and if you have the funds, diamonds. The fanciest of diamonds or the simplest of stones, it does not matter. There is a philosophy behind worry beads: “Whoever owns worry beads, it is a sign that they are a worry-free man.”

References: Wikipedia, Gardenia site, The Monitor, NYT archives, article by  Pinar Tremblay, and Zaineb Al Hassani at The National. Special editing by Jaqueline Raxter.