Cauterization is Makrūh, Healing Lies in Cupping (Ḥijāmah)
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
◈ Cauterization (Dāgh) and Cupping (Ḥijāmah) in Hadith
➊ Jābir (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a physician to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (رضي الله عنه). He cut a vein and then cauterized it.
[Muslim: 2207, Abū Dāwūd: 3864, Ibn Mājah: 3463, Aḥmad: 3/303]
➋ Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cauterized Sa‘d ibn Mu‘ādh (رضي الله عنه) twice in his vein.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 2816, Ibn Mājah: 3494, Aḥmad: 3/312]
➌ Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
«الشفاء فى ثلاثة: فى شرطة محجم أو شربة عسل أو كية بنار، وأنهى أمتي عن الكي»
“Healing is in three things: in cupping, in drinking honey, or in cauterization with fire — but I forbid my Ummah from cauterization.”
[Bukhārī: 5681, Ibn Mājah: 3491, Aḥmad: 1/245]
➍ Jābir (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
«إن كان فى شيئ من أدويتكم شفاء ففي شرطة محجم أو لذعة بنار وما أحب أن أكتوي»
“If there is healing in your treatments, it is in cupping or cauterization with fire, but I do not like to be cauterized.”
[Bukhārī: 5704, Muslim: 2205]
◈ Reconciling the Rulings
The narrations that permit cauterization are carried upon karāhah (dislike), not prohibition. The dislike is due to the fact that fire is a punishment, and punishing with fire is for Allah alone.
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 5/290, al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 2/493]
◈ The Practice of Ḥijāmah (Cupping)
➊ Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) narrated:
«احتجم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو صائم»
“The Prophet (ﷺ) underwent cupping while he was fasting.”
[Bukhārī: 5694]
➋ Another narration states:
«أن رسول الله احتجم في رأسه»
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had cupping done on his head.”
[Bukhārī: 5699]
➌ Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (رضي الله عنه) visited al-Muqanna‘ ibn Sinān (a Tābi‘ī) and said:
“I will not leave until you undergo cupping, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
«إن فيه شفاء»
‘Indeed, there is healing in it.’”
[Bukhārī: 5697]
