Hijama Cupping Therapy is a Sunnah

During “Al-Isra Wal Miraj” or the “Night Journey & Ascension”, our Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ experienced many profoundly significant events. He flew on a winged horse (Al-Buraq) from Makkah to Jerusalem, accompanied by the Angel Jibreel. He prayed with many other Messengers of Allah, ascended to the highest of the seven heavens, was given the gift of five times daily prayer and tenets of creed by Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted).

“Glory to He Who took His servant for a journey by night from the most sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts We blessed, in order that We might show him some of Our signs: for He is the One Who hears and sees [all things]”. Quran 17:1

Amongst all these amazing miracles, Allah (Glorious is He and He is Exalted) also ordered the Angels to instruct Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to establish hijama cupping therapy;

“I did not pass by an Angel from the Angels on the Night Journey except that they all said to me; ‘Upon you is Hijama cupping, O Muhammad’”(Saheeh Sunan ibn Maajah -3477)

 The Best of Medicines

Hijama was declared the best of medicines by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, alongside the Quran.

He ﷺ said: “Hijama cupping is the most helpful procedure for human beings to cure themselves.” (Al Bukhari # 5357)

Other Cultures Practice Cupping Therapy Too

He Cupping therapy has been practiced for centuries globally. The first documented medical text was found in 1550 BC in Egypt. Cupping was also discovered in China over 5,000 years ago and is still practiced to this day. It was commonly practiced in the Roman Empire, Islamic Empire, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, South Asia and USA. It was very popular during the middle ages and 18th and 19th Centuries in Europe. Right now it is most popular in China, Finland and Russia and many Islamic countries.

Cupping Therapy vs. Hijama Cupping Therapy

Cupping therapy is the name of the actual procedure itself. A vacuum is created in a cup and placed on the body. This vacuum causes a negative pressure and pulls the muscles into the cup and therefore, draws the blood to the cupped area. This is known as “dry cupping”. Then you remove the cup in order to make small, shallow incisions in that same area, before putting the cup back on. This pulls out the toxic blood, acids and excess fluids from the body. This is known as “Wet Cupping or Blood Cupping.”

But what differentiates hijama is the religious and spiritual aspect of the practice. “Hijama” is the Islamic version of cupping therapy. Muslims practice hijama cupping therapy, in accordance to the way of the Prophet ﷺ. It means that the patient and hijama practitioner should have done their ablutions (wudu) and should recite Quran during the hijama procedure.

Hijama Returns The Body To A Normal State

Al-hijamah in Arabic literally means “to suck” and to “return to a normal state” of internal balance. It ultimately helps the body to create a balance, healthy alkaline environment by removing acidity. This fixes any problem that the body has, by bringing it to its normal state. Hijama cupping therapy is a holistic, super powerful detox which removes toxic and stagnant blood from your body. It expels negative, unhealthy elements from the body, and allows it to replenish itself.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best treatment is hijama cupping; it removes blood, lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight.” (At-Tirmidhi, 3053)