| HIJAAMAH (CUPPING) Hijaamah comes from the root al-hajm, which means “sucking”, and is used of the action of draining the breast when an infant is suckled. Al-hajjaam is the name given to the cupper, and hijaamah is the name given to this profession. Al-mihjam is the name given to the tool in which blood is collected, or to the knife used by the cupper.
In fiqh terminology the word hijaamah is applied by some scholars to the extraction of blood from the nape of the neck by means of cupping after making an incision with the lancet. Al-Zarqaani stated that cupping is not limited to the nape of the neck, rather it may be done on any part of the body.
In conclusion, hijaam refers to the extraction of blood from the body by means of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment serves the same purpose. [1] [2]
Cupping (hijama) is of three types
70% of diseases, pains and ailments are due to the blood being unable to reach certain parts of the body. Dry cupping (hijama) and dry massaging cupping (hijama) allow the blood to reach these places. [3]
Virtues Of CuppingAnas ibn Maalik,(may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I did not pass by any group on the night when I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra’), but they said to me, ‘O Muhammad, tell your ummah to do cupping. IBN MAJAH (HADITH 3478) [1]
Narrated Abu Hurayrah:The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The best medical treatment you apply is cupping ABU DAWOOD (Book 28, Hadith 3848)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping,branding with fire (cauterizing).” But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire.” SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 584)
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:I heard the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) saying, “If there is any healing in your medicines, then it is in cupping, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be (cauterized) branded with fire.” SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 587)
Narrated Anas:”The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) was cupped. Abu Talhah did the cupping. So he ordered that he be given two Sa’ of food, and he spoke to his masters to reduce his taxes. He said: ‘The most virtuous of what you treat with is cupping.’ Or, he said: ‘The best of your treatments is cupping.’SUNAN TIRMIDHI (Book 14, Hadith 80)
It is narrated on the authority of Humaid that Anas b. Malik was asked about the earnings of the cupper. He said:Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) got himself cupped. His cupper was Abu Taiba and he (the Holy Prophet) commanded to give him two sa’s of corn. He (the Holy Prophet) talked with the members of his family and they lightened the burden of Kharaj (tax) from him (i. e. they made remis- sion in the charges of their own accord). He (Allah’s Apostle) said: The best (treat- ment) which you take is cupping, or it is the best of your treatments. SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 10, Hadith 3830)
Narrated Anas:that he was asked about the wages of the one who cups others. He said, ‘Allah’s Messenger (p.bu.h) was cupped by `Abd Taiba, to whom he gave two Sa of food and interceded for him with his masters who consequently reduced what they used to charge him daily. Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h) s said, “The best medicines you may treat yourselves with are cupping and sea incense.’ He added, “You should not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the tonsils or the palate with the finger, but use incense.” SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 599)
Benefits Of CuppingCupping has real benefits in treating many diseases, past and present. The diseases which have been treated by cupping and for which it has been of benefit by Allaah’s Leave include the following: 1) Circulatory diseases. 2) Treating blood pressure and infection of the heart muscle. 3) Diseases of the chest and trachea. 4) Headache and pains in the eyes. 5) Pain in the neck and stomach, and rheumatic pain in the muscles. 6) Some diseases of the heart and chest, and pain in the joints. In addition, cupping may offer a unique treatment which may reduce pain, and it does not have any side-effects.
Times When Cupping Is RecommendedIbn ‘Abbas said “Indeed the best for you to cup on are the seventeenth, the nineteenth, and the twenty-first. SUNAN TIRMIDHI (Vol. 4, Book 2, Hadith 2053) the Isnaad is daeef.
It was reported from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever wants to be treated by cupping, let him do it on the seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty-first, lest the blood flow too copiously and kill him. IBN MAJAH (HADITH 3485) There is some weakness in the report.
Narrated Abu Hurayrah:The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: If anyone has himself cupped on the 17th, 19th and 21st it will be a remedy for every disease. ABU DAWOOD (Book 28, Hadith 3852)
Scholars viewIMAM NAWAWI SAID Isnaad is hasan as per the condition of Imam Muslim. (MAJMOO 9/62)
ALBANI SAID Hasan. (SAHEEH AL-TARGHEEB 3465,TAKHREEJ MISHKAT MASABEEH 4474,SAHEEH AL-JAAMI 5968)
IMAM SUYUTI SAID Saheeh. (JAAMEE AL-SAGHEER 8326) Although the Hadeeth quoted above are from different sources and may be weak to some extent, they give strength to one another.
IBN AL-QAYYIM SAID :- “These ahaadeeth coincide with what the doctors agree on, that cupping should be done in the second half of the month, and that the third quarter of the month is better than the beginning or the end. But if cupping is done out of necessity it is beneficial at any time, even at the beginning or end of the month. Al-Khallaal said: ‘Ismah ibn ‘Isaam told me: Hanbal told me: Abu ‘Abd-Allaah Ahmad ibn Hanbal would be treated with cupping whenever his blood increased, no matter what time it was… They disliked having cupping done on a full stomach, because that could lead to obstruction and grievous diseases, especially if the food was heavy and bad… Choosing the times mentioned above for cupping is an extra precaution, to be on the safe side and to protect one’s health, but when it comes to treating disease, whenever it is necessary it should be used. (AL-MA’AAD 4/60)
IBN HAJAR SAID :- “According to the doctors, the most efficacious cupping is that which is done at the second or third hour, after having intercourse or taking a bath, etc., and neither on a full nor empty stomach. With regard to specific days for administering cupping, it was reported in a hadeeth narrated from Ibn ‘Umar by Ibn Maajah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Administer cupping, may Allaah bless you, on Thursdays, and administer cupping on Mondays and Tuesdays, but avoid cupping on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.’ It was reported with two da’eef isnads, and there is a third version, also da’eef, reported by al-Daaraqutni in al-Afraad. He also reported it with a jayyid isnaad from Ibn ‘Umar but it is mawqoof (the isnad stops at the Sahaabi). Al-Khallaal reported that Ahmad disliked cupping on the days mentioned, even though the hadeeth was not proven. It was said that a man was treated with cupping on a Wednesday and he developed leprosy because he ignored the hadeeth. Abu Dawood reported from Abu Bakrah that he disliked cupping on Tuesdays, and said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Tuesday is the day of blood, and on that day there is an hour when blood does not stop.’ The doctors are agreed that cupping in the second half of the month, especially in the third quarter, is more beneficial than cupping at the beginning or end of the month. Al-Muwaffaq al-Baghdaadi said: The body fluids (humours) flow heavily at the beginning of the month and calm down at the end, so the best time to let the blood flow is in the middle of the month.” (FATH AL-BAARI 10/149)
It is clear from the above that the haadeeth which specify a particular time, when taken as a whole, indicate that there is a basis for this, especially since the words of the doctors are in agreement with it. If the seventeenth or nineteenth or twenty-first of a hijri month happens to be a Thursday, this is the best possible time for cupping, but this is not to say that it is not good to do it at other times. As a form of medical treatment, cupping should not be restricted to any particular time; it should be done as needed by the patient. [4]
How Cupping Is DoneThe mouth of the cupping vessel (nowadays they use glass vessels) is placed on the skin at the site chosen for cupping. Then the cupper rarefies the air inside the vessel by burning a small piece of paper or cotton inside the vessel, so that the mouth of the vessel will cling to the skin. Sometimes a machine is used instead of the method described above. The vessel clings to the skin and is left for a period of three to ten minutes. Then it is lifted off and a very small incision is made in the skin using a clean sharp instrument such as a razor blade or the like. Then the cup is put back in the same manner as described above, until it is filled with the bad blood that comes out of the veins. Then it is taken off, and may be put back once more if needed. When it is finished and the cup is taken away, a dry dressing is placed over the site of the incision. (MABAAHITH FI’L-JARAAHAH AL-SUGHRA WA’L-TAKHDEER BY PROF. DR. NAZMI AL-QABBAANI)
Ruling On Taking Payments For CuppingThe scholars differed concerning the earnings of a cupper – is that makrooh or permissible without being makrooh? The reason why they differed is that they differed in their understanding of the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that. AMONG THE HAADEETH WHICH DESCRIBE THE EARNINGS OF A CUPPER AS MAKROOH ARE THE FOLLOWING.
Rafi b. Khadij reported Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) as saying:The price of a dog is evil, the earning of a prostitute is evil and the earning of a cupper is evil. SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 10, Hadith 3806) ABU DAWOOD (Book 23, Hadith 3414)
Abu Hurairah said:”The Messenger of Allah(Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade the earnings of a cupper, the price of a dog and stud fees for a stallion.” SUNAN NASEEI (Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4677)
It was narrated that Abu Mas’ud, ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amr, said:”The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him), forbade the earnings of a cupper.” IBN MAJAH (Vol. 3, Book 12, Hadith 2165)
AMONG THE HAADEETH WHICH MENTION A CONCESSION ALLOWING THAT ARE THE FOLLOWING. Narrated Anas:”The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) was cupped. Abu Talhah did the cupping. So he ordered that he be given two Sa’ of food, and he spoke to his masters to reduce his taxes. He said: ‘The most virtuous of what you treat with is cupping.’ Or, he said: ‘The best of your treatments is cupping.’ SUNAN TIRMIDHI (Book 14, Hadith 80)
Narrated Anas:that he was asked about the wages of the one who cups others. He said, ‘Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) was cupped by `Abd Taiba, to whom he gave two Sa of food and interceded for him with his masters who consequently reduced what they used to charge him daily. Then the Prophet (p.b.u.h) s said, “The best medicines you may treat yourselves with are cupping and sea incense.’ He added, “You should not torture your children by treating tonsillitis by pressing the tonsils or the palate with the finger, but use incense.” SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 599) SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 10, Hadith 3830)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:Once the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) got his blood out (medically) and paid that person who had done it.If it had been illegal, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have paid him. SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 316)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) was cupped, he paid the man who cupped him his wages. If it had been undesirable he would not have paid him. SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 3, Book 36, Hadith 479) ABU DAWOOD (Book 23, Hadith 3416)
Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported:The slave of Banu Bayada cupped Allah’s Apostle (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) and he gave him his wages, and talked to his master and he reduced the charges, and if this earning was unlawful Allah’s Apostle (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have given it. SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 10, Hadith 3834) The majority of scholars are of the view that when all of these ahaadeeth are taken together, the prohibition may be understood as meaning that it is makrooh.
IBN QUDAAMAH SAID It is permissible to hire a cupper to treat one with cupping, and his earnings are permissible. This is the view favoured by Abu’l-Khattaab and it is the opinion of Ibn ‘Abbaas. It is also the view of Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and as-haab al-ra’y. Al-Qaadi (i.e., Abu Ya’la, who was a Hanbali) said: The wages of a cupper are not permissible, and he mentioned that Ahmad stated that in several places and said: If he is given something without a (formal) contract or stipulating that, he may take it and dispose of it in feeding his animals or feeding his slaves or on the tools of his trade, but it is not permissible for him to consume it. Among those who regarded the earnings of a cupper as makrooh were ‘Uthmaan, Abu Hurayrah, al-Hasan and al-Nakha’i, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said Rafi b. Khadij reported Allah’& Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:The price of a dog is evil, the earning of a prostitute is evil and the earning of a cupper is evil. SAHIH MUSLIM (Book 10, Hadith 3806)
Narrated Ibn Muhayyisah of Banu Harithah:From his father, that he sought permission from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) to take the wages for cupping and he (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade him from it. He continued asking him and seeking his permission until he said: “Use it to give fodder to your water-carrying camels, and to feed your slaves.”
The fact that this is permissible and not haraam is also indicated by the report narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas Narrated Ibn `Abbas:Once the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) got his blood out (medically) and paid that person who had done it. If it had been illegal, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not have paid him. SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 316)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) was cupped, he paid the man who cupped him his wages. If it had been undesirable he would not have paid him. SAHIH BUKHARI (Vol. 3, Book 36, Hadith 479) ABU DAWOOD (Book 23, Hadith 3416)
Narrated Ibn Muhayyisah of Banu Harithah:From his father, that he sought permission from the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) to take the wages for cupping and he (Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade him from it. He continued asking him and seeking his permission until he said: “Use it to give fodder to your water-carrying camels, and to feed your slaves.” SUNAN TIRMIDHI ( Book 14, Hadith 79)
The words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) regarding the earnings of a cupper, “Feed it to your slaves,” indicates that his earnings are permissible, because it is not permissible for him to feed his slaves with food that is haraam to eat, for slaves are human and the things that Allaah has forbidden are forbidden to them just as they are forbidden to those who are free. Calling it khabeeth (evil) earnings does not necessarily mean that it is haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) called garlic and onions khabeeth even though they are permissible. Rather the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) disliked that for one who is free because this type of work is not befitting for a free man. The fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to give it to his slave indicates that it is permissible. The prohibition on eating it is to be understood as meaning that it is makrooh, not haraam. (AL-MUGHNI 6/133) [5]
References[1] http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/3268/Hijaamah, [2] [5] http://islaahh.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/al-hijaamah-cuppingwhat-islam-says-about-itits-benefits-the-times-when-it-should-be-done/ |
.