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
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.
