1. ‫م‬ِ ‫حمي‬ِ ‫ر‬َّ ‫نا ال‬ِ ‫م‬َ‫ِن‬ ‫ح‬ْ‫نَم‬ ‫ر‬َّ ‫للا ال‬َِّ ‫ما ا‬ِ ‫س‬ْ‫نَم‬ ‫ب‬ِ

3. Al-Hijamah ‫الحجــامة‬
Hijamah is a Sunnah as well as a medical treatment. The
word ‘Hijamah’ is derived from the word Al-Hajm which
carries the meaning: to suck, to absorb, or to extract. It
describes a medical treatment whereby ‘dirty’ blood is
extracted from the body by a suction cup attached to a
lightly incised skin surface.
It was a common practice in traditional Arab Medicine and
is a Sunnah that was practiced and promoted by our
beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW(.
Cupping is also an ancient Chinese method of releasing local
congestion. It has been practiced for thousands of years in
almost every part of the world for the treatment of disease
and pain.
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4. Hijamah is the Best of Remedies
‫أنه‬ ‫عنه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رضي‬ ‫أنس‬ ‫عن‬ ‫الطويل‬ ‫حميد‬ ‫أخبرنا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫أخبرنا‬ ‫مقاتل‬ ‫بن‬ ‫محمد‬ ‫حدثنا‬
‫أبو‬ ‫حجمه‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫احتجم‬ ‫فقال‬ ‫الحجام‬ ‫أجر‬ ‫عن‬ ‫سئل‬
‫طعام‬ ‫من‬ ‫صاعين‬ ‫وأعطاه‬ ‫طيبة‬‫عنه‬ ‫فخففوا‬ ‫مواليه‬ ‫وكلم‬‫ما‬ ‫أمثل‬ ‫إن‬ ‫وقال‬
‫الحجامة‬ ‫به‬ ‫تداويتم‬
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)… [Saheeh
al-Bukhaaree (5371)].
‫أبي‬ ‫عن‬ ‫سلمة‬ ‫أبي‬ ‫عن‬ ‫عمرو‬ ‫بن‬ ‫محمد‬ ‫عن‬ ‫حماد‬ ‫حدثنا‬ ‫إسمعيل‬ ‫بن‬ ‫موسى‬ ‫حدثنا‬
‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫أن‬ ‫هريرة‬‫مما‬ ‫شيء‬ ‫في‬ ‫كان‬ ‫إن‬ ‫قال‬
‫فالحجامة‬ ‫خير‬ ‫به‬ ‫تداويتم‬
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, If
there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is
cupping (hijama). [ Sunan abi Dawud (3857), Sunan ibn Maajah
(3476)].

5. The Angels Recommend It
:‫أسري‬ ‫ليلة‬ ‫مررت‬ ‫ما‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫قال‬
‫من‬ ‫بمل‬ ‫بي‬:‫محمد‬ ‫يا‬ ‫عليك‬ ‫لي‬ ‫يقول‬ ‫كلهم‬ ‫إل‬ ، ‫الملئكة‬
‫بالحجامة‬
The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) 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.]

6. In Hijamah is a Cure
‫قال‬ ‫قتادة‬ ‫بن‬ ‫عمر‬ ‫بن‬ ‫عاصم‬ ‫عن‬ ‫الغسيل‬ ‫بن‬ ‫الرحمن‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫حدثنا‬ ‫نعيم‬ ‫أبو‬ ‫حدثنا‬
‫عبد‬ ‫بن‬ ‫جابر‬ ‫سمعت‬
‫في‬ ‫كان‬ ‫إن‬ ‫يقول‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫النبي‬ ‫سمعت‬ ‫قال‬ ‫عنهما‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رضي‬ ‫ا‬
‫أو‬ ‫محجم‬ ‫شرطة‬ ‫ففي‬ ‫خير‬ ‫أدويتكم‬ ‫من‬ ‫شيء‬ ‫في‬ ‫يكون‬ ‫أو‬ ‫أدويتكم‬ ‫من‬ ‫شيء‬
‫أكتوي‬ ‫أن‬ ‫أحب‬ ‫وما‬ ‫الداء‬ ‫توافق‬ ‫بنار‬ ‫لذعة‬ ‫أو‬ ‫عسل‬ ‫ شربة‬
According to a hadeeth narrated by Jaabir (may Allaah be
pleased with him), the Prophet (SAW) said: “If there is any good
in your medical treatments, it is in the knife of the cupper,
drinking honey, or cauterization with fire, as appropriate to the
cause of the illness, but I would not like to be cauterized.”
[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, (5359)]

7. Benefits of Cupping
‫الحجام‬ ‫العبد‬ ‫نعم‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫نبي‬ ‫قال‬ ‫عباس‬ ‫ابن‬ ‫قال‬
‫عائشة‬ ‫عن‬ ‫البصر‬ ‫عن‬ ‫ويجلو‬ ‫الصلب‬ ‫ويخف‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫يذهب‬
Abdullah Ibn Abbas reported that the messenger of Allah
(SAW) said “How good is the cupper, removes blood,
lightens the back and sharpens the eyesight.”
[al-Tirmidhee, (2053)]

8. Treatment of Hypertension
‫هاج‬ ‫إذ‬ ‫سلم‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫قال‬ ‫قال‬ ‫أنس‬ ‫عن‬
‫يقتله‬ ‫بصاحبه‬ ‫تبيغ‬ ‫إذا‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫فان‬ ‫فليحتجم‬ ‫الدم‬ ‫باحدكم‬
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah
(SAW) said: “When the blood of one of you begins to
rage, he should get cupped because the raging of
blood can kill.”
[al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2747]

9. When to do Hijamah
There is some evidence from ahadith to indicate that
cupping is best performed in the second half of the month.
‫أبيه‬ ‫عن‬ ‫سهيل‬ ‫عن‬ ‫الجمحي‬ ‫الرحمن‬ ‫عبد‬ ‫بن‬ ‫سعيد‬ ‫حدثنا‬ ‫نافع‬ ‫بن‬ ‫الربيع‬ ‫توبة‬ ‫أبو‬ ‫حدثنا‬
‫عشرة‬ ‫لسبع‬ ‫احتجم‬ ‫من‬ ‫وسلم‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫ا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫ا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫قال‬ ‫قال‬ ‫هريرة‬ ‫أبي‬ ‫عن‬
‫داء‬ ‫كل‬ ‫من‬ ‫شفاء‬ ‫كان‬ ‫وعشرين‬ ‫وإحدى‬ ‫عشرة‬ ‫ وتسع‬
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the
Prophet (SAW) said: “Whoever is treated with cupping on the
seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty first, will be healed from all
diseases.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 3861, and al-Bayhaqi, 9/340. The
isnad is hasan).
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10. When to do Hijamah
Some less reliable narrations also recommend
certain days of the week for cupping while
warning against others.
However, as the need may arise, cupping as a
form of medical treatment may be performed at
any time according to the condition or urgency.

11. Locations for Hijamah
1 – The head
al-Bukhaari (2156) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet
(SAW) was treated with cupping on his head when he was in ihraam, and for some kinds of pain.” It
was also narrated by Muslim (1203) from the hadeeth of Ibn Buhaynah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (SAW) was treated with cupping on the road to Makkah when he was in
ihraam, in the middle of his head.
2 – The two veins at the sides of the neck, and the base of the neck
Abu Dawood (3860), al-Tirmidhi (390) and Ibn Maajah (3483) narrated from Anas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (SAW) was treated with cupping three times in the two veins at
the side of the neck and the base of the neck. [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi
Dawood.]
3 – The hip
Abu Dawood (3863) narrated from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of
Allaah (SAW) was treated with cupping on his hip for a pain in that site. [Classed as saheeh by al-
Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.]
4 – Back of the foot
al-Nasaa’i (2849) narrated from Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(SAW) was treated with cupping when he was in ihraam, on the back of his foot, for a pain in that
site. [Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.]

12. Other Locations for Hijamah
Besides these five locations mentioned specifically in the
ahadith, those skilled in cupping can recommend other
suitable locations depending on the condition.
Ibn al-Qayyim (May Allah have mercy on him) said:
Cupping beneath the chin is beneficial for pains in the
teeth, face and throat, if it is used at the right time...”
“Cupping at the bottom of the chest is beneficial for the
treatment of sores, scabies and pustules on the thighs, and
of gout and scabies.”
[Zaad al-Ma'aad, 4/53]
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13. How does Cupping Work?
In the traditional understanding of cupping
(a treatment practiced by the Chinese,
Egyptians, Babylonians and Arabs), the
benefits are numerous.
Cupping is believed to
Release local toxins
Stimulate the lymphatic system
Clear blockages or stagnated circulation
Activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries
Realign and balance vital energy
Promote and improve circulation
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15. Importance of the Lymphatic System

16. Some Conditions Treated through
Cupping
1. Migraine headaches
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
3. Stiff or swollen joints, especially in the neck and back
4. Stomach ulcers and problems associated with diabetes
5. High blood pressure
6. Psychological disorders and some cases of paralysis
7. Magic
8. Back pain, joint pain, gout, constipation, digestive problems, loss of
appetite
9. Insomnia, problems associated with menstruation
10. Headaches
11. Strengthening One's Intelligence And Memory
12. Poison
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17. Types of Cupping
“Dry cupping” uses special cups and a suction pump on certain
pressure points and meridians on the body. The flesh is sucked in to
the cup and left to promote blood circulation.
The “moving” or “massage cupping” follows the same principle but
only one large cup is used to massage the area. Oil is liberally applied
to the back, arms or legs and deep tissue massage is undertaken. Large
singular strokes are given, moving directly up and down the
meridians.
“Hijama” or “Wet cupping” is the same as dry cupping but involves
drawing a small amount of toxic blood from small incisions made on
the surface of the skin. This is the Sunnah Method

18. Method of Wet Cupping
Dry cupping is first performed
Small cuts are made in the cupped area and then the
cup is replaced on the skin. The skin will be drawn
into the cup and blood is sucked out of the area.
When done properly, on an area that has septic blood,
the blood drawn will be dark. The process is repeated
until the blood turns red. Then the cupping should be
stopped.
The area should be cleaned and bandaged as
necessary
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19. Equipment
 These are the plastic cups that are used.
They have a valve at the top which
controls suction pressure. They also
have removable magnets (used for “Bio-
magnetic Cupping Therapy”) which are
very effective for this treatment. .

20. Dry Cupping
Hijamah Jaafa
Wet Cupping
Hijamah
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21. Different Types of Cupping Sets
21

22. 22

23. Awareness of the Risks
Suspected hemorrhage
Sunburns or burns in general
Open wounds or recent trauma
Should be avoided lower and upper abdomen whilst
pregnant
Should be aware of patients medical history an what
medicine they are on e.g Anti coagulants or if they are
diabetic or anemic
Any blood coagulation disorders