Shaykh al-Islām Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

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Counting glorifications of Allah on one’s fingers is sunnah, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to the women:

“Glorify Allah and keep count on your fingers, for they will be questioned and made to speak.”

As for counting them with fruit pits, pebbles, and similar things, this is good. Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do so. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw the Mother of the Believers counting her glorifications with pebbles and approved of her doing so. It is also reported that Abū Hurayrah used to do this.

As for counting glorifications with beads and similar objects threaded on a string, some people considered it disliked, while others did not. If the intention behind it is good, it is good and not disliked. However, keeping such beads without any need, or displaying them to people—for example, hanging them around one’s neck, wearing them like a bracelet on one’s wrist, or something similar—is either showing off before people or something that invites showing off and resemblance to those who show off, without any need. The first is forbidden, and the second is, at the very least, disliked. For showing off before people in specifically devotional acts, such as prayer, fasting, remembrance of Allah, and recitation of the Quran, is among the gravest sins. Allah says: