What Is Hijama
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The word Hijama is an Arabic word and it originates from the word “hajm”. The word hajm in
English means, “sucking”. In English Hijama is referred to as Wet Cupping. Hijama is a
complementary therapy to treat and prevent illnesses. It is an ancient therapy that has been
practiced for many thousands of years throughout the world. The process of Hijama Therapy
involves creating negative pressure in the affected area using a cup and a suction pump. Thereafter,
small superficial incisions are made on the skin and the cup is reapplied. It works as an effective
pain relief and removes stagnant blood from beneath the surface of the skin.
Bloodletting is also commonly referred to as Hijama; this ascription is incorrect. Bloodletting is
when blood is extracted from the veins or arteries and is more invasive than Hijama (where only
superficial incisions are made on the skin). During Hijama blood is only extracted from underneath
the top layer of the skin, the veins are completely avoided.
How does Hijama work?
Hijama is a powerful way of helping the body heal itself; it works by removing
stale, stagnant blood and other pathogens through the skin. It is an organic, natural and an
alternative to conventional medicine. Hijama can even work hand in hand with conventional
(allopathic) medicine.
It works by creating a negative pressure in the area applied, thus helping to relieve pain and reduce
congestion. Hijama works in the opposite way to massage therapy, as massage therapy uses positive
pressure on the surface of the skin, however, the result of both therapies are the same. Hijama
therapy is not painful, but it a strong vacuum that can feel like a hard pinch.
* Shaykh Aal ash-Shaykh says: “The affair of Hijama is very important for health, and in the narration of
al-Israa (Ascension) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not pass by an assembly of Angels
except that they said: Oh Muhammad, order your Nation with Cupping (to use cupping as a treatment).
For the blood has excess (and harmful) elements above what (is needed) for circulation in the body and
what is discharged (by other means), and had it not been that it dwindles (through removal) then life
would not remain (in the long term). Then the excess that is not needed is removed, and thus comes Hijama
(as a treatment)…..”
* Hijama In Islam
Hijama played a large role as part of Islamic medicine. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) had hijama performed on him and he was informed of its effectiveness as a remedy by the
angels during the night journey.
It is Wet Cupping that has a relation to Islam; it is one of the remedies from the Sunnah of the
Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). It is also the best form of cupping.
*The following are some of the Islamic narrations regarding Cupping Therapy:
o Narrated Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) said: I did not pass by an assembly of Angels on the night that I was taken on the night
journey (lailatul israa), except that they said: Oh Muhammad, order your nation with Cupping (to
use cupping as a treatment).
2
o Narrated Jabir (radiyallahu anhu) when he returned to Muqanna’ he said: I will not leave until
you treat yourself with Cupping. For indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) saying: Indeed there is a cure in it (in Cupping).
3
o Narrated ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhu), the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: There is a
cure in three things: in the slash of the cupper or drinking honey or cauterization with fire, and I
forbid my nation from cauterization.
4
o Narrated Jabir (radiyallahu anhu) that Umm Salamah (wife of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) sought permission from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to have
Cupping performed on her. So the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ordered Abu Taibah to cup
her. He said: I assumed that he was her brother from breast-feeding or he was a boy under the age of
puberty.
5
Cupping Whilst Fasting
Islamic scholars differ on whether performing Hijama breaks the fast of the Cupper and the one
having cupping done.
Narrated Thawbaan (radiyallahu anhu) from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam):
“The Cupper and the one being cupped have broken their fast.”
6
Similar narrations have also been recorded on the authority of Raafi’ ibn Khadeej and many other
Companions. Therefore, some scholars have categorised this narration as Mutawaatir (report with acontinuous and consecutive chain of narrators).
However, Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiyallahu anhu) narrates, “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) was cupped whilst he was in a state of Ihraam (ritual consecration), and he was also cupped
whilst he was fasting.”
7
Narrated Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhuma): “The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was treated by
Cupping while he was fasting.”
8
Also, Shu’bah said, “I heard Thaabit Al-Bunaani say: Anas ibn Maalik (radiyallahu anhu) was asked
‘Did you [i.e., the Companions of the Prophet] dislike cupping for a fasting person?’ He said, ‘No, except for
fear of weakness.’”
9
Abu Dawud similarly narrates that Anas (radiyallahu anhu) said, “We did not dislike cupping for the
fasting person, except that we were concerned about it inducing fatigue.”
10
Benefits and rulings derived from these narrations:
1. There are many narrations proving that cupping invalidates the fast of the one who performs
it and for the one who gets it done. However, other narrations state that the Prophet
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was cupped while he was fasting.
Consequently, the scholars disagreed on whether cupping is permissible for a fasting person
or not. The majority of them are of the opinion that it is, and that the narrations that run
contrary to that are abrogated by those narrations that indicate its permissibility. This
opinion was supported by Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, Ibn Mas‘ood and Umm Salamah
(radiyallahu anhaa) in addition to ‘Urwah and Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr. Likewise, this view was
held by the three Scholars: Maalik, Abu Haneefah and Ash-Shaafi‘i. Shaykh al-Albaani also
followed this opinion.
2. On the other hand, Imaam Ahmad’s opinion was that cupping invalidates the fast; this was
the stance taken by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim also.
The Permanent Committee for Research and Iftaa’ (issuance of religious rulings) in Saudi
Arabia and the majority of Saudi scholars also chose this opinion.
3. The Hadeeth of Anas (radiyallahu anhu) proves that cupping weakens the fasting person and
was thus forbidden. This is one of the merits of Sharee‘ah (Islamic jurisprudence), that it
relieves people from difficulties and protects them against harms.
4. The rationale behind the invalidation of the fast of the person who is cupped is that the
procedure drains him. As for the one who does cupping, his fast is annulled too, because hemay swallow some blood (during the process). However, if one does cupping using modern
equipment, rather than his mouth, then the procedure does not render his fast null and void.
*Cupping whilst in the state of Ihram (consecration)
The following narration of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is a proof that one is allowed to
have Hijama performed while in the state of Ihraam.
Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet was treated by cupping while he was in the state of ihram.11
Narrated Ibn Abbas: That the Messenger of Allahs was treated with Cupping on his head while he
was in ihram due to a migraine that he had.
12
Cupping points mentioned in the narrations of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam):
Narrated Anas (radiyallahu anhu), that the Prophet (sallahu alaihi wasallam) used to get treated
with cupping on the two jugular veins and the upper part of the back (this area is referred to as
Kaahil in Arabic).
He used to get treated with cupping on the 17th and 19th and the 21st. 13
Narrated Jabir (radiyallahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) fell off from his horse
onto a trunk (of a tree), so his foot became dislocated. Waki’ said: meaning that the Prophet was
treated with Cupping on it because of a contusion.14
Narrated Jabir (radiyallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was
treated with Cupping on his hip because of a sprain/bruise he suffered from.15
Narrated Salma (radiyallahu anhaa), the servant of the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi
11 Sahih al- Bukhari 5695
12 Sahih al-Bukhari 5701
13 at-Tirmidhi 2051
14 Ibn Majah 3485
15 Sunan Abi Dawud 3863
Conclusion
Opinion 1: Scholars who take this opinion say cupping invalidates the fast.
Opinion 2: Scholars who take this opinion say the narrations that mention the invalidation
of the fast if cupped have been abrogated by the narrations that allow cupping whilst fasting.
Through our research and seeking advice, we take the opinion that it is permissible to have
cupping done for a need (i.e. an illness). Otherwise avoid it because it weakens a person, and
by avoiding it, it removes the person from the difference of opinion of the scholars.
☺☺☺
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