Happy Muslim Mama: Rainbow Tasbeeh

Ever since I received these beads, my mum-in-law has been mentioning at regular intervals what a pretty tasbeeh, or set of prayer beads, they would make. I decided to take the hint and have fun with the pretty colours and put together the tasbeeh below.

I used donut-shaped crystal beads called rondelles with a diameter of 8mm in a repeat pattern of colours. I used two “spacer” beads with coloured rhinestones to mark the 33rd bead from both side of the starting point. In between the two spacers I threaded 34 more beads bringing the total to 100. I wasn’t sure where to get a long bead for the “aleph”as the part at the top where the two ends of the tasbeeh join, is called. Instead I used 6 of the rhinestone spacer beads next to each other to form a column. I threaded the beads onto wire which I fed through all of the beads twice. Where the wire emerged, I used tiny white 4mm crystal rondelles to create the tassle you usually find at the end of the aleph. At the end of each tassle, where I tied a knot, I then painted the knot with clear nail varnish to prevent the knots from unravelling.
I have seen very pretty Swarovski crystal ones in an Islamic goods store nearby, but the price was above what I would pay, even if they do catch my eye every time I walk past. Insh’Allah, I hope to make one for my mum in the pretty summer colours she likes and perhaps another in white for my dad. Mum-in-law absolutely loved hers and insh’Allah I am sue it will be well-used. I have asked her not to be too gentle with it so I can get an idea if the knots are tight enough and where there are any flaws.