Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Asim bin ‘Umar bin Qatadah says that Sayyiduna Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to our house and there was a man suffering from a wound (i.e., he had developed an ulcer). Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What is troubling you?” He replied, “I have an ulcer which is very severe for me.” Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “O servant! Bring a cupping practitioner.” He said, “What is the use of a cupping practitioner?” Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I want to have cupping done on this wound.” He replied, “By Allah, flies will trouble me and if cloth touches it, I will be in pain and it will be very hard for me.” When Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that he was distressed by the idea of cupping, he said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘If there is any good in your medicines, it is in three things: cupping, a drink of honey, and cauterization with fire; but I do not prefer cauterization.’” The narrator said that then the cupping practitioner came and performed cupping on him, and his illness went away.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that Umm al-Mu'mineen Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) sought permission from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to have cupping done, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered Abu Taybah to perform cupping for her. The narrator said: I think he said that Abu Taybah was either the foster brother of Umm al-Mu'mineen Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) or a minor boy (with whom veiling is not obligatory, and in case of necessity, if a woman or a boy is not available for treatment, then a non-mahram man may also perform it).