Haj pilgrims will head back home from Makkah carrying not just the memory of the ultimate spiritual experience in Islam but also gifts for beloved ones, with prayer beads a hot favourite. From the cheapest versions worth just a few cents to the costly varieties made of gemstones, the easy-to-pack prayer beads come second only to bottles of “divine” water from the spring of Zamzam in Makkah. “I bought them for SR50 ($13) and am taking a few for relatives and other beloved ones,” said Yemeni pilgrim Saleh Al Harazi, showing off his newly acquired prayer beads. “It’s not the price that matters, but where I bought it from,” said Harazi, one of nearly 2.4 million faithful. American University in Cairo lecturer Mustafa Al Burei said the most luxurious prayer beads were those made of gemstones, while those made of ivory or sandalwood were also considered good buys. “Prayer beads made of amber or onyx can fetch as much as SR5,000 ($1,300),” he said.
Ivory prayer beads would cost around SR300 ($80) apiece, Burei said. Expensive prayer beads — known as masbaha in Arabic — can sometimes serve as more than a means of prayer, becoming a mark of prestige. Luxurious pieces “are sometimes associated with social status, with their owners using them in such a way as to attract attention,” Burei said.
Abu Faris, who sells prayer beads, perfumes and incense, agreed, saying many pilgrims also buy expensive gift boxes for the prayer beads. Pricier prayer beads also come encrusted with silver and seashells, he said. Burei said China had begun mass production of prayer beads in recent years, using fake stones and cheap wood or crystal and churning out pieces whose prices range from SR1 to SR30 (26 cents to $8).