The conditions of the Prophet with cupping.
Cupping in modern medicine.
What is the validity of the prohibition of cupping on certain days?

It is no wonder that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us of things that were revealed to him from his Lord, and these include information about scientific matters that were unknown at that time. This is a miracle which serves as proof that he is a true Prophet. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was not a doctor but he told of some things that have been confirmed by modern medicine to be true. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not have laboratories or x-rays, but he spoke of things which mankind did not know to be true until after they were tested in laboratories and seen under microscopes. 

What is cupping?  Cupping means letting out bad blood that is beneath the skin.  It is a kind of medical treatment: It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Healing is in three things: in the incision of the cupper, in drinking honey and in cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my ummah (nation) to use cauterization.”  

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5356. It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 when there is certainty that this will cure the disease, but I do not like to be cauterized.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5359; Muslim, 2205 The angels advised the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his ummah to use cupping. 

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I did not pass by any group of angels on the night of the Isra’ [the Prophet’s night journey when he was taken from Makkah to Jerusalem and back in the course of a single night], but all of them said to me, “You should use cupping, O Muhammad.” 

Classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2263. Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated by means of cupping: 

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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.   Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1836.  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 (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated with cupping on his head when he was in ihraam for a migraine that he was suffering. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5374. 

It was narrated from Ibn Buhaynah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated with cupping on the way to Makkah when he was in ihraam, in the middle of his head. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1739; Muslim, 1203. 

Lahi Jamal is a place on the way to Makkah.  His companions were treated with cupping and they recommended it: Muslim (2205) narrated that ‘Aasim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qataadah said:  Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah 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-Allaah?” He said, “I want to apply a cupping glass to him.” He said, “By Allaah, 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 Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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 Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘But I would not like to be cauterized.’” Then he brought the cupper and made the incision, and his problem went away. 

Recommendation of cupping on certain days of the month  It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:  “The best days for cupping are the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty first [of the months of the Islamic Hijri calendar]. I did not pass by any group of angels on the night of the Isra’ [the Prophet’s night journey when he was taken from Makkah to Jerusalem and back in the course of a single night], but all of them said to me, “You should use cupping, O Muhammad.”  Narrated by Ahmad, 3306. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1847. 

Cupping in modern medicine:   Modern medicine has proven that cupping brings many benefits, and numerous books have been written about that, such as al-Dawa’ al-‘Ajeeb alladi shafa min Marad al-Qalb al-Qaatil wa’l-Shalal wa’l-Shaqeeqah wa’l-‘Uqum wa’l-Sarataan wa Marad al-Naa’oor al-Waraathi al-Haemophilia (The Amazing Cure that may heal fatal heart disease, paralysis, migraine, infertility, cancer and the genetic disease haemophilia). This is the most recent and most important book that has been published recently by the researcher ‘Abd al-Qaadir Yahya, which deals with the science of cupping. 

This book is regarded as a scientific reference and medical dictionary that is unique in the world because of its excellent explanations and scientific evidence. It is divided into 12 chapters, covering 500 pages. 

In the last chapter, he quotes clinical reports on the condition of some patients who recovered or whose condition improved with the application of cupping, by comparing the reports on their sickness before cupping and after cupping was applied. He also quotes the testimony of opinions of members of the Syrian medical team who took part in the research on cupping, who numbered 25 clinical and laboratory experts. 

Details of the physical benefits of cupping         

1- Modern science has proven that cupping may be a cure for some heart diseases, some blood diseases and some liver diseases. In cases where the lungs have become swollen because of heart failure, when all means of treatment such as use of diuretics, tying the hands and feet to reduce the flow of blood to the heart have failed, releasing some of the blood by opening a vein may be essential, to bring about a rapid recovery from heart failure. Similarly in the event of a sudden rise in blood pressure accompanied by semi-consciousness and a loss of awareness of time and place, or accompanied by unconsciousness as a result of the sudden increase in blood pressure, releasing some of the blood by opening a vein may be a treatment for such cases. Similarly, for some liver diseases such as cirrhosis there may be no effective remedy apart from releasing some of the blood by opening a vein. There are also some blood diseases which are distinguished by overproduction of red blood cells and a high ratio of haemoglobin in the blood, which require releasing some of the blood by opening a vein, which is the most effective treatment in such cases, so as to avoid further complications. It is worth mentioning that an increase in red blood cells may be the result of living in the mountains at high altitude and a low ratio of oxygen in the air, or it may be the result of intense heat that has an obvious effect of increasing glandular excretions, which leads to an increase in the number of red blood cells. So releasing some of the blood by opening a vein is the appropriate treatment in such cases. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of the remedies that you use is cupping.” Narrated by Ahmad, 11634; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1053. This is a view which is approved by science, as has recently been confirmed by scientific research. 

Ref: al-‘I’jaaz al-‘Ilmi fi’l-Islam wa’l-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah, by Muhammad Kaamil ‘Abd al-Samad. It should be noted that the author used the word fasd (opening a vein, venesection) instead of hijaamah (cupping). It is well known that there is a difference between the two. Fasd (opening a vein) means taking blood from the veins, which is more like having a blood sample taken, and cupping means removing bad blood from beneath the skin. 

2 – Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah – who was well-versed in medicine – said: Cupping on the upper back helps to relieve pain in the shoulder and throat. Cupping on the veins on the side of the neck is beneficial in relieving  diseases of the head and its parts such as the face, teeth, ears and eyes (and the nose and throat if applicable) which are caused by an excess of blood or corruption thereof, or by both. Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/55, 56 

Al-Tirmidhi (2051) narrated that Anas said: The Messenger of Allaah (S) used to have cupping done on the veins on the side of the neck and the upper back.  Islam Q&A

None of the hadiths about the timing of cupping are saheeh, Praise be to Allah, Firstly:

There are many hadiths from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) about the timing of cupping, which refer to his words or actions. They may be divided into two categories:

1-  Hadiths which state the preferred days for cupping, which are the seventeenth – especially if it happens to be a Tuesday – the nineteenth and the twenty-first of the lunar month, and Mondays and Thursdays among the days of the week.

2- Hadiths which forbid cupping on certain days of the week, namely Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. There are also hadiths which encourage doing cupping on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Most of the leading scholars have stated that all the hadiths in these two categories are da‘eef and not one of them is soundly narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). There follow some of their statements:

1.Imam Maalik was asked about cupping on Saturdays and Wednesdays, and he said: There is nothing wrong with that; there is no day on which I have not had cupping done, and I do not regard any of that as makrooh. End quote.  Al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta’ (7/225), quoted from al-‘Atabiyyah  It says in al-Fawaakih ad-Dawaani (2/338), which is a Maaliki book: (Cupping is permissible) on all days, even Saturdays and Wednesdays. In fact Maalik deliberately used to have cupping done on those days, and he did not regard any kind of medical treatment as makrooh on those two days. The hadiths which warn against cupping on those days were not regarded as saheeh by Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him). End quote.  ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn Mahdi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: There is no saheeh report from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning the timing of cupping; however he enjoined doing it. End quote.  Narrated by Ibn al-Jawzi in al-Mawdoo‘aat (3/215)

3.Al-Khallaal narrated from Imam Ahmad that the hadith is not proven. Narrated by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari (10/149)

4.Al-Bardha‘i said: I saw Abu Zar‘ah not confirming any hadith about cupping being makrooh on a particular day or being mustahabb on a particular day. End quote.  Su’aalaat al-Bardha‘i (2/575)

5.Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said, commenting on the words of Imam al-Bukhaari, “Chapter on what time cupping should be done, and Abu Moosa had cupping done at night” Concerning the suitable times for cupping, there are hadiths none of which meet his (al-Bukhaari’s) conditions. It is as he was indicating that it may be done when needed, and it is not restricted to one time rather than another, because he mentioned cupping being done at night. End quote.  Fath al-Baari (10/149)

6.Al-‘Aqeeli (may Allah have mercy on him) said: No report has been proven sound about this matter – i.e., the best day for cupping. End quote.  Ad-Du‘afa’ al-Kabeer (1/150)

7.Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) included some chapters in his book al-Mawdoo‘aat (3/211-215) in which he compiled these hadiths on this topic, after which he said: None of these hadiths are saheeh. End quote.

8.Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: To sum up, nothing is proven about the prohibition on cupping on particular days. End quote.  al-Majmoo‘ (9/69).  However, an-Nawawi classed as hasan the hadith about doing cupping on the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first (of the lunar month).  Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:  None of these hadiths is saheeh. End quote.  Fath al-Baari (10/149)

Secondly:  Many of the scholars regarded it as mustahabb to do cupping on the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first of the lunar month, based on a number of points of evidence:   1.That was narrated with saheeh isnaads from the Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them):

It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said:  The Companions of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do cupping on the odd-numbered days of the month.  Narrated by at-Tabaraani in Tahdheeb al-Athaar (no. 2856). He said: Muhammad ibn Bashshaar told us: Abu Dawood told us: Hishaam told us, from Qataadah, from Anas.

This is a saheeh isnaad. Abu Zar‘ah said: The best report concerning it is the hadith of Anas: The companions of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do cupping on the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first. Su’aalaat al-Bardha‘i (2/757)

After the report mentioned above, at-Tabari also narrated that Rafee‘ Abu’l-‘Aaliyah said: They used to regard it as mustahabb to do cupping on odd-numbered days of the month.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Awn said: Some of his companions used to advise doing cupping on the seventeenth and nineteenth. Ahmad said: Sulaym said: Hishaam told us, from Muhammad, that he added: and the twenty-first.  Perhaps the Sahaabah learned that from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), which gives the impression that these hadiths were originally marfoo‘. In fact some of the scholars are of the view that some of the marfoo‘ hadiths concerning that are qawiy, such as Imam at-Tirmidhi when he narrated the hadith of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to have cupping done on the two veins at the side of the neck and between the shoulder blades, and he used to have cupping done on the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first. (No. 2051). He (at-Tirmidhi) said: A hasan hadith.

Some of the later scholars did likewise, such as as-Suyooti in al-Haawi li’l-Fataawa (1/279-280); Ibn Hajar al-Haytami in al-Fataawa (4/351); and Shaykh al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah (no. 622, 1847).  However the texts that we have mentioned above from the imams, which described the marfoo‘ report as da‘eef, are more likely to be correct.

2.That is also supported from a medical point of view: Al-‘Allaamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said – after narrating the hadiths that speak of doing cupping on the seventeenth, nineteenth and twenty-first –: These hadiths are in accordance with what is agreed upon among doctors, which is that cupping in the second half and third quarter of the month is more beneficial than in the first half and last quarter. However, if it is used when there is a need for it, then it is beneficial at any time, whether that is at the beginning of the month or the end.

Al-Khallaal said: ‘Usmah ibn ‘Isaam told me: Hanbal told us: Abu ‘Abdullah Ahmad ibn Hanbal used to have cupping done at any time he felt the need, at any hour of the day. End quote. Zaad al-Ma‘aad (4/54)

But with regard to choosing days of the week for cupping, nothing is proven concerning that from a medical point of view, as far as we know, although there are reports from some of the Sahaabah concerning that. It is proven from Imam Ahmad that he used to avoid cupping on Saturdays and Wednesdays. That was narrated by Ibn al-Qayyim in Zaad al-Ma‘aad (4/54) from al-Khallaal.

Ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Cupping is makrooh on Saturdays and Wednesdays. This was stated in a report of Abu Taalib and a number of others. Ahmad added the report of Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Hassaan. They also mentioned Fridays. This is what was stated definitively in al-Mustaw‘ab and elsewhere.

Al-Marwadhi said: Abu ‘Abdullah used to have cupping done on Sundays and Tuesdays. Al-Qaadi said: It is clear that Sundays and Tuesdays are preferred, and Saturdays and Wednesdays are disliked. Nothing was said about Fridays. End quote. It was narrated from az-Zuhri in a mursal report: “Whoever has cupping done on a Saturday or a Wednesday, and is afflicted with leprosy, let him blame no one but himself.” This was mentioned by Ahmad and quoted as evidence. Abu Dawood said: Its isnaad is not saheeh.

Al-Bayhaqi said that it was regarded as mawsool by more than one scholar, but he regarded that as incorrect. Rather it is munqati‘ (interrupted). End quote.

It was narrated by Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah with his isnaad from Mak-hool in a mursal report.  Ahmad was told that a man was treated with cupping on a Wednesday and he took the hadith lightly and said: What is this hadith? Then he was afflicted with leprosy. Ahmad said: No one should take the hadith lightly. This was narrated by al-Khallaal. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar in a marfoo‘ report: “On Friday there is an hour when no one is treated with cupping but he is exposed to a disease from which there is no healing.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi with a hasan isnaad. It includes ‘Ataaf ibn Khaalid, in whom there is some weakness. End quote. Al-Adaab ash-Shar‘iyyah by Ibn Muflih (3/333) Something similar was also narrated from Ibn Ma‘een and ‘Ali ibn al-Madeeni. And Allah knows best.