❖ Cupping Therapy and the Guidance of the Prophet ﷺ ❖
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
Is cupping (ḥijāmah) a legitimate form of treatment, and did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ endorse it?
Yes, absolutely.
Cupping holds great significance.
It is narrated from Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«الشفاء فى ثلاث: شربة عسل، وشرطة محجم، وكية بنار، وأنهى أمتي عن الكي»
“Healing lies in three things: drinking honey, the incision of cupping, and cauterization with fire — but I forbid my Ummah from cauterization.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth no. 5356]
It is also narrated from Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:
«ما مررت ليلة أسري بي بملإ من الملائكة إلا قالوا: يا محمد! مر أمتك بالحجامة»
“The night I was taken on the Isrāʾ and Miʿrāj, I did not pass by any group of angels except that they said: O Muḥammad ﷺ! Instruct your Ummah to practice cupping.”
This narration is recorded by Imām al-Tirmidhī from Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه.
① Cupping (ḥijāmah) is explicitly mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ as one of the means of healing.
② The angels emphasized the importance of cupping during the Prophet’s ﷺ night journey, urging him to command his Ummah to adopt it.
③ The Prophet ﷺ discouraged cauterization, while highlighting cupping and honey as more favorable and effective remedies.
Authored by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
Is cupping (ḥijāmah) a legitimate form of treatment, and did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ endorse it?
❖ Answer:
Yes, absolutely.
Cupping holds great significance.
It is narrated from Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«الشفاء فى ثلاث: شربة عسل، وشرطة محجم، وكية بنار، وأنهى أمتي عن الكي»
“Healing lies in three things: drinking honey, the incision of cupping, and cauterization with fire — but I forbid my Ummah from cauterization.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth no. 5356]
It is also narrated from Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:
«ما مررت ليلة أسري بي بملإ من الملائكة إلا قالوا: يا محمد! مر أمتك بالحجامة»
“The night I was taken on the Isrāʾ and Miʿrāj, I did not pass by any group of angels except that they said: O Muḥammad ﷺ! Instruct your Ummah to practice cupping.”
This narration is recorded by Imām al-Tirmidhī from Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه.
✿ Key Points:
① Cupping (ḥijāmah) is explicitly mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ as one of the means of healing.
② The angels emphasized the importance of cupping during the Prophet’s ﷺ night journey, urging him to command his Ummah to adopt it.
③ The Prophet ﷺ discouraged cauterization, while highlighting cupping and honey as more favorable and effective remedies.
