Cupping (Ḥijāmah) While Fasting – Complete Shariah Guidance
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues of Fasting, Sadaqat al-Fiṭr, and Zakāt, p. 149
What is the ruling on undergoing cupping (ḥijāmah) while fasting? One ḥadīth states that “the cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast,” while another reports that the Prophet ﷺ himself underwent cupping while fasting. Please clarify.
(Naveed Shaukat, Derby, UK)
It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم احتجم وهو محرم، واحتجم وهو صائم"
“The Prophet ﷺ underwent cupping while in the state of iḥrām and also while fasting.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5694)
This ḥadīth clearly indicates that undergoing cupping while fasting is permissible.
It refers to the process of extracting blood from the body for medical or therapeutic purposes.
Narrated from Thawbān رضي الله عنه:
"أَفْطَرَ الْحَاجِمُ وَالْمَحْجُومُ"
“The cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2367, authentic chain; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1962, 1963; Ibn Ḥibbān: 899; al-Ḥākim on the conditions of al-Bukhārī and Muslim: 1/427; agreed upon by al-Dhahabī)
This ḥadīth pertains to the initial stage when cupping was considered to invalidate the fast.
It is narrated from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:
“At first, I disliked cupping for the fasting person when Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه underwent cupping while fasting, and the Prophet ﷺ passed by and said: ‘Both of these have broken their fast.’ Later, the Prophet ﷺ granted permission for the fasting person to undergo cupping, and Anas himself would have cupping done while fasting.”
Imām al-Dāraqutnī رحمه الله said:
All narrators of this report are trustworthy and there is no defect in it.
(Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī: 4/268)
① ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Muthannā ibn Anas – Considered trustworthy and ḥasan al-ḥadīth by the majority (Taḥqīqī Maqālāt: 5/207)
② Khālid ibn Mukhlad – Considered trustworthy and ḥasan al-ḥadīth by the majority.
Thus, the chain is ḥasan li-dhātih, and criticisms from some ḥadīth scholars are not valid here.
❀ Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه: “There is no harm for the fasting person to undergo cupping.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1981, ḥasan chain)
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"الفطر مما دخل ، و ليس مما خرج"
“The fast is broken by what enters the body, not by what leaves it.” (al-Awsaṭ li-Ibn al-Mundhir: 1/195, no. 81, authentic chain)
❀ ʿIkrimah رحمه الله: “No harm for the fasting person to undergo cupping.” (Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/53, ḥadīth 9333, authentic)
❀ ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr رحمه الله: He would undergo cupping while fasting. (Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/53, ḥadīth 9334, authentic)
① The ḥadīth stating that cupping breaks the fast is abrogated.
② Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله and other leading scholars hold that undergoing cupping while fasting is permissible.
(al-Iʿtibār fī Bayān al-Nāsikh wa-al-Mansūkh min al-Āthār, p. 141)
Date: 6 August 2013 / 27 Ramaḍān 1334H
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues of Fasting, Sadaqat al-Fiṭr, and Zakāt, p. 149
Question
What is the ruling on undergoing cupping (ḥijāmah) while fasting? One ḥadīth states that “the cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast,” while another reports that the Prophet ﷺ himself underwent cupping while fasting. Please clarify.
(Naveed Shaukat, Derby, UK)
The Prophet ﷺ Undergoing Cupping While Fasting
It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم احتجم وهو محرم، واحتجم وهو صائم"
“The Prophet ﷺ underwent cupping while in the state of iḥrām and also while fasting.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5694)
This ḥadīth clearly indicates that undergoing cupping while fasting is permissible.
Meaning of Cupping (Ḥijāmah)
It refers to the process of extracting blood from the body for medical or therapeutic purposes.
The Ḥadīth Indicating the Fast is Broken
Narrated from Thawbān رضي الله عنه:
"أَفْطَرَ الْحَاجِمُ وَالْمَحْجُومُ"
“The cupper and the one cupped have both broken their fast.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 2367, authentic chain; Ibn Khuzaymah: 1962, 1963; Ibn Ḥibbān: 899; al-Ḥākim on the conditions of al-Bukhārī and Muslim: 1/427; agreed upon by al-Dhahabī)
This ḥadīth pertains to the initial stage when cupping was considered to invalidate the fast.
Later Permission for Cupping While Fasting
It is narrated from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:
“At first, I disliked cupping for the fasting person when Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه underwent cupping while fasting, and the Prophet ﷺ passed by and said: ‘Both of these have broken their fast.’ Later, the Prophet ﷺ granted permission for the fasting person to undergo cupping, and Anas himself would have cupping done while fasting.”
Imām al-Dāraqutnī رحمه الله said:
All narrators of this report are trustworthy and there is no defect in it.
(Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī: 4/268)
Verification of Narrators
① ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Muthannā ibn Anas – Considered trustworthy and ḥasan al-ḥadīth by the majority (Taḥqīqī Maqālāt: 5/207)
② Khālid ibn Mukhlad – Considered trustworthy and ḥasan al-ḥadīth by the majority.
Thus, the chain is ḥasan li-dhātih, and criticisms from some ḥadīth scholars are not valid here.
Practice and Statements of the Ṣaḥābah and Tābiʿīn
❀ Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه: “There is no harm for the fasting person to undergo cupping.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1981, ḥasan chain)
❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
"الفطر مما دخل ، و ليس مما خرج"
“The fast is broken by what enters the body, not by what leaves it.” (al-Awsaṭ li-Ibn al-Mundhir: 1/195, no. 81, authentic chain)
❀ ʿIkrimah رحمه الله: “No harm for the fasting person to undergo cupping.” (Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/53, ḥadīth 9333, authentic)
❀ ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr رحمه الله: He would undergo cupping while fasting. (Ibn Abī Shaybah: 3/53, ḥadīth 9334, authentic)
Conclusion of Research
① The ḥadīth stating that cupping breaks the fast is abrogated.
② Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله and other leading scholars hold that undergoing cupping while fasting is permissible.
(al-Iʿtibār fī Bayān al-Nāsikh wa-al-Mansūkh min al-Āthār, p. 141)
Benefit
- Drawing blood for treatment or donating blood while fasting does not break the fast.
- However, if there is a risk of weakness, it is better to avoid donating blood while fasting.
Date: 6 August 2013 / 27 Ramaḍān 1334H
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
