HIJAMAH (CUPPING THERAPY): AN ISLAMIC NATURAL HEALING THERAPY — PART-4/4

HIJAMAH CUPPING THERAPY: A NATURAL, HOLISTIC APPROACH

Hijamah – or wet cupping – is a fast disappearing practice, which is a shame as it was highly recommended by the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and continues to offer many health benefits.

The premise of Islamic medicine is faith in Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) and knowing healing comes only from Him, and that there is a cure for every disease.

A Remedy for Every Disease

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنهما، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ

 لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءٌ، فَإِذَا أُصِيبَ دَوَاءُ الدَّاءِ بَرَأَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ

“There is a remedy for every disease and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted).” 

 Sahih Muslim — 2204

In Islam, health is a very important part of life and there is a great emphasis placed on it.

The Blessing of Health and Free Time

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: نِعْمَتَانِ

 مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet ﷺ said, 

“There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing good.” 

(Sahih al-Bukhari 6412)

The question is, do we give importance to our life or take time out to learn about the natural remedies that the Prophet ﷺ has told us about?

A Forgotten Sunnah

Hijamah Cupping Therapy is an Islamic, natural, holistic, healing therapy. Unfortunately, it is a “forgotten sunnah” that has been erased from our valuable history, due to modern medicine and surgery. We need to revive and establish this practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. We need to empower Muslims to be strong, healthy and rise up once again. As Muslims, we need to re-assert ourselves as leaders in the fields of medicine and health, just as we were in the golden age of Islamic science.

Here are the top 10 things you should know about hijamah Cupping Therapy….

1. hijamah Cupping Therapy is a Sunnah

During “Al-Isra Wal Miraj” or the “Night Journey & Ascension”, our Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ experienced many profoundly significant events. He flew on a winged horse (Al-Buraq) from Makkah to Jerusalem, accompanied by the Angel Jibreel. He prayed with many other Messengers of Allah, ascended to the highest of the seven heavens, was given the gift of five times daily prayer and tenets of creed by Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted).

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (1)

“Glory to He Who took His servant for a journey by night from the most sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts We blessed, in order that We might show him some of Our signs: for He is the One Who hears and sees [all things]”. 

Quran 17:1

Amongst all these amazing miracles, Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) also ordered the Angels to instruct Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to establish hijamah cupping therapy;

Hijamah Recommended by the Angels

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: مَا مَرَرْتُ بِمَلَإٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ

 لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَّا قَالُوا: عَلَيْكَ بِالْحِجَامَةِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ

“I did not pass by an Angel from the Angels on the Night Journey except that they all said to me; ‘Upon you is hijamah cupping, O Muhammad’” 

(Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah -3477)

 

2. “The Best of Medicines”

Hijamah was declared the best of medicines by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, alongside the Quran.

Hijamah as a Helpful Treatment

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

 «أَمْثَلُ مَا تَدَاوَيْتُمْ بِهِ الْحِجَامَةُ»

He ﷺ said: “hijamah cupping is the most helpful procedure for human beings to cure themselves.” 

Sahih al-Bukhari — 5697 Sahih Muslim — 1577

3. Other Cultures Practice Cupping Therapy too

Cupping therapy has been practiced for centuries globally. The first documented medical text was found in 1550 BC in Egypt. Cupping was also discovered in China over 5,000 years ago and is still practiced to this day. It was commonly practiced in the Roman Empire, Islamic Empire, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, South Asia and USA. It was very popular during the middle ages and 18th and 19th Centuries in Europe. Right now it is most popular in China, Finland and Russia and many Islamic countries.

4. Cupping Therapy vs. hijamah Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is the name of the actual procedure itself. A vacuum is created in a cup and placed on the body. This vacuum causes a negative pressure and pulls the muscles into the cup and therefore, draws the blood to the cupped area. This is known as “dry cupping”. Then you remove the cup in order to make small, shallow incisions in that same area, before putting the cup back on. This pulls out the toxic blood, acids and excess fluids from the body. This is known as “Wet Cupping or Blood Cupping.”

But what differentiates hijamah is the religious and spiritual aspect of the practice. “hijamah” is the Islamic version of cupping therapy. Muslims practice hijamah cupping therapy, in accordance to the way of the Prophet ﷺ. It means that the patient and hijamah practitioner should have done their ablutions (wudu) and should recite Quran during the hijamah procedure.

5. hijamah Returns The Body To A Normal State

Al-hijamah in Arabic literally means “to suck” and to “return to a normal state” of internal balance. It ultimately helps the body to create a balance, healthy alkaline environment by removing acidity. This fixes any problem that the body has, by bringing it to its normal state. hijamah cupping therapy is a holistic, super powerful detox which removes toxic and stagnant blood from your body. It expels negative, unhealthy elements from the body, and allows it to replenish itself.

The Benefits of Hijamah

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: الْحِجَامَةُ

 أَنْفَعُ مَا تَدَاوَى بِهِ النَّاسُ، تَذْهَبُ بِالدَّمِ، وَتُخَفِّفُ الصُّلْبَ، وَتَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ

Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best treatment is hijamah cupping; it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight.” 

Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi — 3053 Sunan Ibn Majah — 3478

6. The Medical Benefits Are Well-Documented

Hijamah Cupping is an excellent form of preventative and curative therapy. Below are some of the ways cupping helps:

Boosts the circulatory and immune systems

Cleanses and detoxifies the body

Treats illness and relaxes the patient

Pain relief

Fertility

Hijamah is also useful for treating many muscular, skeletal, neurological, immune, cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive and urinary issues.

Some of its benefits were highlighted by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger ﷺ of Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) said, 

Hijamah on an Empty Stomach

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «الْحِجَامَةُ

 عَلَى الرِّيقِ أَمْثَلُ، وَفِيهَا شِفَاءٌ وَبَرَكَةٌ، وَتَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ وَفِي الْحِفْظِ

“Hijamah cupping on an empty stomach is best. It increases the intellect and improves the memory. It improves the memory of the one memorizing….” 

Sunan Ibn Majah — 3867

7. It Works On An Emotional Level Too

Islamic medicine is holistic and works on the levels of mind, body and soul. hijamah cupping therapy is a minor, surgical procedure which has immediate physical effect. However, it also serves to alleviate, mental, emotional, spiritual and metaphysical issues. It is very relaxing and dispels anxiety and depression. According ibn Al Qaiyum, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had hijamah performed upon his head to remove black magic which had been cast upon him;

Ibn al-Qaiyum (may Allah have mercy on him) mentions that the Messenger ﷺ was cupped on his head when he was afflicted with magic and that it is from the best of cures for this if performed correctly. 

[Zaad al Ma’aad (4/125-126)]

8. There Are Sunnah Points On Your Body

The traditional sunnah points for hijamah therapy are on the upper back, which essentially target the heart, lungs, brain and spine. All are major foundations for optimal health.

hijamah serves to cleanse and unblock the major arteries and veins.

Hijamah (Cupping) on the Neck and Upper Back

عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال

كان رسول الله ﷺ يحتجم في الأخدعين والكاهل

Anas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to have hijamah Cupping done on the veins on the side of the neck and the upper back. 

Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 3860.

9. There Are Ideal Times To Do It

Hijamah cupping is both a preventative and curative remedy. It is recommended that you should have a hijamah detox, and then use hijamah as a form of maintenance 2-4 times a year if you are healthy. If you have serious medical conditions, it can be performed more often. It is best to have hijamah performed on the “Sunnah Days” according to hadith:

Hijamah (Cupping) on the 17th, 19th and 21st Days

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ

مَنِ احْتَجَمَ لِسَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ، وَتِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ، وَإِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ، كَانَ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ

“Whoever performs hijamah cupping in the 17th, 19th and 21st day (of the Islamic Lunar month), then it is a cure for every disease”. 

[Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah (3861)].

 

10. The hijamah Therapist Has A Special Status

Imagine having a career in a blessed profession that the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has praised himself;

Hijamah (Cupping) and Honey

عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ

إِنْ كَانَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَدْوِيَتِكُمْ خَيْرٌ، فَفِي شَرْطَةِ مِحْجَمٍ، أَوْ شَرْبَةِ

 عَسَلٍ، أَوْ لَذْعَةٍ بِنَارٍ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكْتَوِيَ

Jābir ibn ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“If there is anything good in the medicines with which you treat yourselves, then it is in the incision of the hijamah therapist, a drink of honey, or cauterization with fire, but I do not like to be cauterized.”

Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 5683. Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2205.

We encourage as many Muslims as possible to learn how to perform hijamah professionally, in order to:

Counter the negative side effects of alophathic medication and chemicals

Treat the diseases that are untreatable even with modern medicine

Have this treatment available to more people

Have a satisfying and spiritually rewarding career

Revive the forgotten sunnah of hijamah.

The career of a professional hijamah therapist is fulfilling and benefits the practitioner in this life and the next.

Action Items

Now, armed with this phenomenal knowledge, be proactive. Here is your action list to be part of the revival of the sunnah of hijamah cupping therapy:

Book a hijamah treatment and get treated – experience it first hand.

Start treating the community professionally and safely

Promote hijamah, spread the word and educate the Muslim community

Establish the sunnah of hijamah cupping therapy

Reviving a Sunnah

 

عن عمرو بن عوف رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ

مَنْ أَحْيَا سُنَّةً مِنْ سُنَّتِي فَعُمِلَ بِهَا كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا، لَا

 يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْئًا، وَمَنْ ابْتَدَعَ بِدْعَةً فَعُمِلَ بِهَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ

 أَوْزَارُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا، لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْئًا

ʿAmr ibn ʿAwf رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah and it is practiced after him, he will have the same reward as those who practice it, without their rewards being diminished in the slightest…”

Sunan Ibn Mājah, Hadith No. 209.

Note: The wording and grading of this narration vary among hadith scholars and editions. The well-known authentic hadith with a very similar meaning is Sahih Muslim 1017, concerning whoever introduces a good practice (Sunnah ḥasanah) and receives the reward of those who follow it.