Cupping (Hijama) – From the prophetic medications 1

This article was written by Muhammad Sham’oon in dhiislam.com

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِيْنَ ، الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِيْ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ وَالدَّوَاءَ ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى خَيْرِ وَلَدِ آدَمَ أَجْمَعِيْنَ سَيِّدُ الأَطِبَّاءِ ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِيْنَ وَصَحْبِهِ الغُرِّ الْمَيَامِيْنَ وَعَلَى مَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ وَوَالَاهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ. أَمَّا بَعْدُ

To treat oneself when afflicted with an illness, is legislated in Islam. It is also encouraged. It does not contradict the idea of putting one’s trust in Allah (tawakkul) under any circumstance. Thus, it is explained in the tradition (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), treatments for various diseases. As a matter of fact, one of the most prominent form has found to be Cupping (Hijama). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا تَدَاوَيْتُمْ بِهِ الْحِجَامَةُ أَوْ هُوَ مِنْ أَمْثَلِ دَوَائِكُمْ

“The best medicine with which you treat yourselves is cupping, or it is one of the best of your medicines.”

 

Thus, during the night of Isra’ and Mi’raaj (the Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascent into heaven) it was instructed by the angels to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to practice cupping and also commanded his nation to use cupping. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

مَا مَرَرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِيْ بِمَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا كُلُّهُمْ يَقُوْلُ لِيْ : عَلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بِالْحِجَامَةِ

“On the night in which I was taken on the night journey (Isra’), I did not pass by any group of angels but all of them said to me: ‘O Muhammad, you should use cupping.’”

He (peace be upon him) also said:

مَا مَرَرْتُ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِيْ بِمَلَأٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ إِلَّا قَالُوا : يَا مُحَمَّدُ مُرْ أُمَّتَكَ بِالْحِجَامَةِ

“During the night of Isra’ (the Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascent into heavens), every company (of angels) that passed by would say, ‘O Muhammad! Order your nation to use cupping.’”

 

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has practiced cupping.

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا : أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ احْتَجَمَ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ وَاحْتَجَمَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ

“Ibn ‘Abbas, May Allah be pleased with him, recounts, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was cupped while he was fasting and when he was in a state of ihram (ritual consecration). In addition to that, he (peace be upon him) has advised his nation to practice cupping.

وَ مَا اشْتَكَى أَحَدٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَجَعًا فِيْ رَأْسِهِ إِلَّا قَالَ : احْتَجِمْ

“Whenever someone would complain of a headache to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) he would say: Perform Cupping (Hijama).”

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1 صحيح مسلم/ باب حِلِّ أُجْرَةِ الْحِجَامَةِ
2 صحيح الجامع
3 صحيح الجامع
4 صحيح البخاري/ باب الحجامة والقيئ للصائم
5 سلسلة الأحاديث الصحيحة

Taken from Dhiislam