tasbih
My object is called a tasbih, or sometimes a Misbaha. It’s a string of green and brown beads with a small tassel at the end, used for counting prayers. The beads feel smooth and cool when I run my fingers over them, and the tassel swings a little as I move each bead. I first learned how to use it in 2015, when my grandmother showed me in our home in America. She held it gently and said, “Every bead is a memory,” her voice soft like the evening breeze. I watched her fingers move over the beads, and I realized something so small could hold so much meaning.The tasbih came with my family from Afghanistan, packed carefully with our few belongings during planes, buses, and heavy boxes. Even though it’s small, it carries a lot—memories of our home, prayers, and a connection to the life we left behind. When I touch each bead, I can almost hear the faint clicking sound, like the rhythm of the prayers we said in Afghanistan.Holding it makes me feel warm inside, like I’m carrying a piece of my culture with me. It reminds me of my grandmother, family gatherings, and the faith that helped my family stay strong on our journey. If it could talk, the tasbih would tell stories of hope, struggle, and love. It’s more than beads on a string—it’s a connection to my past, my family, and the prayers that keep us together no matter where we are.

– sahar

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more