Ahadith on Hijamah

There are many narrations about Hijamah, which describe many aspects of this treatment, from how the Prophet الله عليه وسلم used Hijamah, the preferred and discouraged days, and the many benefits of this treatment. Below are some hadith that have been narrated:

1. According to a hadeeth narrated by Anas ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I did not pass by any group of angels 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 Maajah)

2. Anas ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was treated with cupping by Abu Tayyibah. He commanded that he should be given two measures of food, and he spoke with his tax-collectors, who reduced his taxes. He said, “The best treatment you can use is cupping.” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim)

3. According to a hadeeth narrated by Jaabir رضي الله عنه, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If there is any good in your medical treatments, it is in the knife of the cupper, drinking honey, or cauterization with fire, as appropriate to the cause of the illness, but I would not like to be cauterized.” (Al-Bukhaari)

4. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنه that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was treated with cupping when he was in ihraam [a special state of devotion at the time of pilgrimage to Makkah], and he was treated with cupping when he was fasting. (Al-Bukhaari)

5. It was narrated from Ibn Buhaynah that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was treated with cupping on the way to Makkah when he was in ihraam, in the middle of his head. (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim)

6. Some of his companions stated that he was treated with cupping for a pain in the head, i.e. a “migraine”. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was treated with cupping in his head for pain when he was in ihraam, at an oasis called Lahi Jamal. And it was narrated from him that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was treated with cupping on his head when he was in ihraam for a migraine that he was suffering. (Al-Bukhaari)

7. ‘Aasim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qataadah said: Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah came to us and there was a man suffering from an abscess or a wound. He said, “What is wrong with you?” He said, “An abscess that is causing me pain.” He said, “O boy, bring me a cupper.” He said, “What will you do with a cupper, O Abu ‘Abd-Allah?” He said, “I want to apply a cupping glass to him.” He said, “By Allah, even if the flies land on me it hurts me, or if my garment touches me, it hurts me.” When he saw how reluctant he was, he said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say, ‘If there is anything good in your medical treatments, it is in the incision of the cupper, drinking honey or in touching with fire.’ And the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘But I would not like to be cauterized.’” Then he brought the cupper and made the incision, and his problem went away. (Muslim)