Prayer beads
The prayer beads are for concentration only and are optional (and it does not matter how they are composed)[edit]
"The Bahá'í rosary has no significance, whatsoever, except to enable the person who is repeating something a set number of times to concentrate on the meaning of the words, and not have to count at the same time.
"It does not matter in the least how the rosaries are made up, or whether one uses one or not. Some people seem to be able to concentrate, and at the same time remember the number, without any difficulty.
"If you like to make rosaries and share them with your friends, that is your privilege, He certainly, however, does not see why it should in any way be a bone of contention."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 200)
No directions given as to how to use the prayer beads in recitation of 95 Alláh'u'Abhás[edit]
"As regards the repeating of the Greatest Name ninety-five times, this also has been mentioned by Baha'u'llah but He has given no directions as to how the prayer beads should be used in this connection."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, no. 1525, p. 466)
Prayer beads not required nor should they be prevented from doing so; hard and fast rules should also not be set up for distribution of prayer beads[edit]
"In the matter of the distribution and use of prayer beads, in this and other matters of secondary importance he does not wish that any hard and fast rules be set up. The believers should not be required to use prayer beads, nor should they be prevented from doing so, as the Teachings do not contain any specific instructions on the subject."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, April 4, 1940: Bahá'í News, No. 137, July 1940, p. 3, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1513)
