Hijamah (Cupping)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ; وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ; وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي ; يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
The word ‘Hijamah’ comes from the root word ‘Al-Hajm’ which refers to ‘sucking’ and is used for the action of draining of the breasts when an infant is suckled.
‘Hijamah’ is a process of treatment where contaminated and bad blood is removed from the body. In this treatment, small skin incisions are made for therapeutic use at different points on patient’s body, depending on what ailment is being treated, small cups are placed at these points (in inverted manner), and suction is created at these points to let the toxic/contaminated/bad blood come out by vacuum. Suction can either be created by using heat/fire to warm the cups so that the cooling air inside the cups creates a vacuum that tugs the skin upwards, or suction can be created by using an air pump to siphon the air out of cups (glass cups are more widely used in this treatment). The bad blood then gets collected in these cups and is disposed of.
The practitioner of this treatment is called ‘Al-Hajjaam’.
This process/treatment is also known as ‘Wet Cupping’.
It is an ancient practice that spans both East and West. In the East, Chinese have been doing this practice since ages (more than 3000 years). In the West, Egypt is said to be the birth place of this treatment, dating back to era before Christ. However, citation is needed for these statements.
1. ‘Dry cupping’ is not ‘Hijamah’.
‘Dry cupping’ is a treatment method in which suction is created on particular points on the patient’s body, but no skin incisions are made; hence, there is no outflow of blood in ‘dry cupping’.
‘Hijamah’ is related to ‘wet cupping’ only, and hence, mere ‘dry cupping’ is not considered as ‘Hijamah’.
Therefore, wherever in our discussion ahead we shall use the word cupping in place of ‘Hijamah’, it shall refer to ‘wet cupping’.
2. What Islam says about ‘Hijamah’?
‘Hijamah’ finds an important place in Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) said that one of the best treatments a man can have for healing his/her ailments is ‘cupping’; refer to following hadith:
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA): The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey, and/or cauterization (i.e. branding with fire), but I forbid my followers to use cauterization.”
(Hadith No. 5681, Book of Medicine, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7).
In fact, if treated according to Allah’s Messenger’s (PBUH) advice, on recommended dates of a lunar month, every disease can be healed through ‘Hijamah’, Insha’Allah. Following hadith confirms this:
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (RA) said: Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Whoever is treated with ‘Hijamah’ on the 17th, 19th and 21st (of Islamic month), it will be a remedy for every disease.”
(Hadith No. 3861, Book of Medicine, Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol. 4).
Some scholars talk about specific days of weeks also which are recommended for cupping to be done. They quote the hadith of Ibn Umar (RA) reported by Ibn Majah in his Sunan (Hadith No. 3487, Chapters on Medicine, Vol. 4). But that is a ‘Daeef’ hadith, and hence, cannot be relied upon. The hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA) quoted above is a better guide about specific dates/days to do ‘Hijamah’.
2.1. ‘Hijamah’ can be done while fasting.
It is worth mentioning that ‘Hijamah’ is one form of treatment that can be done during fasting also. Following hadith confirms this:
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA): The Prophet (PBUH) was cupped while he was fasting.
(Hadith No. 5694, Book of Medicine, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7).
2.2. ‘Hijamah’ can be done while in a state of Ihram.
This is proven from following narration:
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA): The Prophet (PBUH) was cupped while he was in a state of Ihram.
(Hadith No. 5695, Book of Medicine, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7).
2.3. Rulings about earnings through practice of ‘Hijamah’
There is a difference of opinion about whether earnings from cupping are permissible or not in Islam. The difference arises due to presence of different ahadith on this subject. Let us see the two different views on this subject:
2.3.1. View 1: Earnings from cupping are not permissible for a Muslim.
The basis of this view is explained below:
It was narrated that Rafi bin Khadij said, “I heard the Prophet (PBUH) say: The worst earnings are the payment of a prostitute, the price of a dog, and the fee of a cupper.”
(Hadith No. 4011 (1568), Book of Musaqa & Mu’amalah, Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4).
For those who cannot see a direct prohibition on earnings by cupping in above mentioned hadith, here is another narration:
It was narrated that Abu Masud, Uqbah bin Amr, said, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) forbade the earnings of a cupper.”
(Hadith No. 2165, Chapters on Business Transactions, Sunan An-Nasa’i, Vol. 3).
This view was favoured by Uthman (RA) and Abu Hurairah (RA).
2.3.2. View 2: Earnings from cupping are permissible for a Muslim.
This view is based on following narration:
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA), “When the Prophet (PBUH) was cupped, he paid the man who cupped him his wages.”
(Hadith No. 2278, Book of Hiring, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 3).
This is the view of Ibn Abbas (RA), Imam Malik, Imam Shafi, and Ibn Qudamah (famous Hanbali scholar). They say that if the earnings through were prohibited then the Prophet (PBUH) would not have paid the cupper his wages.
In presence of authentic ahadith in support of both views, a person has the option to go with whichever view he/she prefers.
I personally hold the view that earnings through cupping are permissible.
And Allah knows best.
Concluding remarks
Usamah bin Sharik said: Some Bedouins asked, “O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! Shall we treat (our illness)?” He said, “Yes, O worshippers of Allah! Use remedies. For indeed Allah did not make a disease but made a cure for it – or – a remedy, except for one disease.” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! What is it?” He said, “Old age.”
(Hadith No. 2038, Chapters on Medicine, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4; Hadith No. 3855, Book of Medicine, Sunan Abu Dawud, Vol.4).
See the beauty of Islam; it confirms to us that every disease has been sent with its treatment too. Modern medical science has done lot of progress, and gradually much sophisticated treatments are coming to fore. But in limelight of the modern technological advancement, the old traditional treatment methods have started taking a back seat.
‘Hijamah’ is one such treatment which has taken a back seat in modern times. It is unfortunate for us to say this, but it is a fact, and we have to accept it. There is almost zero awareness about this treatment among Muslims of Indian sub-continent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.). Muslims of Arab world are still keeping this treatment alive, but it ranks very low in priority list of the society. That is a real pity.
We have seen in our discussion that it is such a treatment through which every disease can be healed (Insha’Allah) if done in accordance with guidelines given to us by the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) himself used to undergo this treatment for healing of his ailments. Hence, it is a Sunnah too.
Then why don’t we consider this treatment in high status?
Modern medical science is still struggling to find out a proper cure for some life-threatening diseases cancer, AIDS etc. The cure is there; it is only when Allah wills that the mankind will be able to know about it. Who knows may be ‘Hijamah’ can contribute in curing these diseases.
I request all my readers to start taking this treatment seriously. Start having this for your ailments. Trust the words of our Prophet (PBUH); Insha’Allah you shall get positive results. At least do it for the sake of doing one Sunnah.
Make sure you get it done by certified/experienced practitioners. The practitioners should make sure that they perform the treatment in a hygienic manner. Authorities should take initiative to promote this treatment.
Let us all take ‘Hijamah’ seriously. Let us create awareness among people about this forgotten Sunnah.
Let us contribute in reviving a Sunnah. I have done it. What about you?
And Allah knows best.
May Allah forgive me if I am wrong and guide us to the right path…Ameen.
.سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُون ; وَسَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ ; وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Source: http://www.quranandhadith.com/hijamah-cupping/
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