Seated in his wheelchair with a radiant smile, Sabir Fathi, a Jordanian expatriate residing in Al Ain, dedicates hours daily to handcrafting Islamic prayer beads (tasbeehs), undeterred by his disability.
At 50, Fathi was born without legs and with significant hand disabilities but has never let that stop him from creating something exquisite, one bead at a time.
“I’ve been like this since birth,” he shared, gently rolling the beads with the two fingers of his right hand at the Al Dhaid Dates Festival last week. “God took my legs but gave me a strong heart. Alhamdulillah for everything.”
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For the past 30 years, Fathi has made the UAE his home. Within his Al Ain apartment, he has transformed a small corner into a workshop.
He crafts approximately three tasbeehs daily, each meticulously made using natural stones like agate, turquoise, amber, rose quartz, and hematite sourced globally. “I don’t shape the stones myself, but I have machines at home to adjust their size and thread the beads. Some clients request custom designs, which I provide.”
‘Spreading peace’
Fathi’s interest in tasbeehs, Islamic rosaries for divine praise and remembrance, began in his youth. As a child, he often watched people praying with beads, the movements providing peace and connection. “As a child, I would observe the tasbeehs and wonder who made them. I never imagined I’d make them myself someday,” he said.
The gentle clicking of beads and the tranquility on faces intrigued him. “It started slowly. I made one for myself, then one for a friend, and soon people began requesting more,” he reflected on his business’s early days. Today, his tasbeehs are available throughout the UAE at exhibitions, cultural fairs, and online. “I participate in many exhibitions nationwide. People come to hear my story, and it brings joy when they take my tasbeehs home. It feels like spreading peace.”
Wife’s support
His wife is integral to his work, managing everything requiring movement or lifting, from stone preparation to online sales. “He handles the threading and designs, but I assist with tasks needing two hands,” she stated. “This is a joint venture.”
Sitting beside him in the workshop, she helps arrange stones, tie threads, and pack completed tasbeehs for delivery. “She is my greatest support,” he expressed. “She helps when I can’t reach something or move boxes. We work together daily.”
She also aids in delivering orders across Al Ain and nearby areas. “If someone calls and can’t come, we deliver to them. I want my tasbeehs to reach those who truly appreciate them.”
‘Baba, you are strong’
“For me, this work is more than just income,” Fathi stated. “With every tasbeeh, I believe I earn a bit of reward from Allah. It’s not just my livelihood; it’s part of my hereafter. Each bead reminds me to remember Him, to be patient, and to stay grateful.”
Despite his condition, he never seeks pity, focusing instead on his capabilities with pride. “Many ask how I do this with my hands. I tell them, you can achieve anything if your mind believes you can.”
While his daughters live and work in Jordan, he feels their pride in his work. “They say, ‘Baba, you are strong.’ That strengthens me.”
In his Al Ain apartment, the sounds of stones, strings, and the gentle clinking of beads are constant. “There is no sound of struggle,” said Fathi.
