Early in my service, I noticed many of my students and teachers at my school had colorful things wrapped around their fingers that they were constantly pressing. These turned out to be a sort of tally counter specially designed to conveniently count – in the case of my Muslim students and teachers – their thoughts of God throughout the day.

Bu Yeti gave me my very own device as oleh-oleh (souvenir) upon her return from Mecca.

Nur and Ulfatun wear their tally counters in class. I’d say more than 50 percent of the people in my school wear this on a daily basis and record their piety.