Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

 

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

 

Counting the number of rak`ahs in the prayer is something for which there is a precedent in the practice and words of the early generations. Their methods of counting varied according to their environments and times. Some of them used to use their rings, some used date stones or pebbles, and others used their fingers or toes. All of this confirms that there is a basis for using such a device to count the number of prostrations and rak`ahs.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan quoted in his book ‘Add al-Aayi wa’r-Rak ‘aat fi’s-Salaah the hadith of ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Qasim from his father, from ‘Aishah, according to which, when she offered an obligatory prayer, she would count her prayer with her ring, moving it on her hand until she finished her prayer, and counting with it.

It is permissible and useful for one who is faced with compulsive whispers, or is very forgetful or suffers from Alzheimer as the case of your ant and that is causing him some difficulties, if it will benefit him in his prayer and will fulfil its purpose by helping him to focus on his prayer. But in ordinary cases, when there is no particular need for such this counter, we do not think that a person should use it.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.