The great muhaddith, Ishaq ibn Mansur asked Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal (رحمهما الله):
Can a man count tasbeeh using seeds?
He replied: Abu Hurairah and Sa’d رضي الله عنهما did it (counted with seeds). There is nothing wrong with it. The Messenger also counted.
Ishaaq ibn Mansur went on to say that, (the great mujtahid and Imam) Ishaaq ibn Raahwaih also said the same (as Ahmed) (رحمهما الله).
[Masaail Imam Ahmed and Ishaq #3589 Pg.4887]
