CUPPING WHILE OBSERVING FAST

There is a difference of opinion between the jurists, and there are various evidences to support each stance, however.

Jurist Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal and Imam Awzaee went to say that hijama invalidates the fast. Ishaq bin Rahawiah, Ibn Khuzaimah, Ibn Al-Mundhir also had same opinion.Their evidence for this is found in the hadith collection of Abi Dawood and Ibn Majah:

Narrated Thawban(r.a):

The Prophet (saw) said, “A man who cupped and a man who has himself cupped broke their fast.” (Sunan Abi Dawud. Graded Sahih [Al-Albani])

But the majority of jurists and scholars including the great jurist Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik and al-Shaafa'i (May Allah have mercy on them) believe that it did not break the fast. Their main evidence is hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari: Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

The Prophet (saw) was cupped while he was in the state of lhram, and also while he was observing a fast. (Sahih Bukhari 1938).

Evidences that support the view of the majority of jurists:

·         Narrated Ibn `Abbas (r.a):

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was cupped while he was in the state of lhraam, and also while he was observing fast. [Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1938]

·         Narrated Ibn `Abbas (r.a):

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was cupped while he was fasting and in Ihraam.” [Reference: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 775 (Sahih Hadith)]

·         Anas (r.a) narrated:

‘The first time cupping was disliked for the one who is fasting was when Ja’far bin Abi Talib had himself cupped while fasting and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came across him and said, “Those two have broken their fast (meaning Ja’far and the man who was cupping him).” But later on, the Prophet allowed cupping for the one who is fasting. Anas used to have himself cupped while he was fasting. Related by Ad-Daraqutni, who regarded it as a strong hadith. [Reference: Bulugh al-Maram, Hadith 688 (Sahih Hadith)]

·         Narrated Thabit Al-Bunani (r.a):

Anas bin Malik was asked whether they disliked the cupping for a fasting person. He replied in the negative and said, “Only if it causes weakness.” [Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1940]

From the above ahadith, we find that as a rule, cupping does not break the fast. And the last-mentioned hadith also tell us the reason of prohibition was fear of weakness to the fasting person which can led to break fast, If no such fear exists, then it is permissible.

Conclusion:

The procedure of Hijaamah (Wet-Cupping) itself does not break the fast.

As Ibn Abbas and Akramah (r.a) said: Fasting is broken by what entered, not by what went out. However, the only consideration is that, it might entail weakness to the fasting person due to blood being drained out (which can lead him/her to break his/her fast). If no such fear exists, then it is permissible.

A GLOBAL WAY OF TREATMENT

Cupping is used in over 60 countries in the world to treat a broad spectrum of conditions such as headaches, back & neck pain, musculoskeletal pain, infections, insect bites, hypertension, respiratory conditions, mental disorder, skin disorders, digestive problems, and infertility etc. 

In a recent press release, the NIH (Washington DC) referred to a 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis of cupping that concluded, “cupping could be effective in treating the pain and disability associated with chronic neck pain and chronic low-back pain in the short term.” In a study of 70 patients suffering from tension and migraine headaches, the application of wet-cupping improved 95 percent of the cases reducing the severity of the headaches by an average of 66 percent, and the patients experienced the equivalent of 12.6 fewer days of headache per month.   Unquestionably, those results indicate cupping is a very safe and powerful non-pharmacological approach.

In 2010, Chinese researchers performed a systematic review of cupping literature identifying 4,696 citations, paring down to 550 clinical studies, the majority of which evaluated cupping therapy for pain conditions.   The researchers concluded that “most studies show potential benefit on pain conditions, herpes zoster and other diseases. However, further rigorous designed trials in relevant conditions are warranted to support their use in practice.” (Figure 1) This same group of researchers evaluated eight RCT’s involving 651 patients on wet-cupping therapy for the treatment of herpes zoster.  The meta-analysis found that the wet-cupping therapy was superior to western medication and reduced the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.

MECHANISM OF CUPPING THERAPY

There are several theories on the mechanisms of cupping.  Skin is well vascularized – meaning it has a rich blood supply, and the applied suction has been found to increase circulation through dilating capillaries causing them to rupture – which causes the tell-tale circular bruises – and to promote lymphatic circulation. Cupping

Cupping also exerts a positive effect on regulating the immune system and controlling inflammatory processes.

Also cupping remove blood clouds and increase blood circulation to entire human body which help to blood movement.

A cure of disease

“If it is anything (that heals), then it is in cupping, black cumin, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be cauterized.” Recorded by Ibn Jarir and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak. He considered it to be authentic, vol. 4, hadith no.209, and the text has authentic books.

Hijama as a complete medicine

“If it is anything (that heals), then it is in cupping, black cumin, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be cauterized.” Recorded by Ibn Jarir and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak. He considered it to be authentic, vol. 4, hadith no.209, and the text has authentic books.

cupping thrapy

“If it is anything (that heals), then it is in cupping, black cumin, a gulp of honey or branding with fire (cauterization) that suits the ailment, but I don’t like to be cauterized.” Recorded by Ibn Jarir and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak. He considered it to be authentic, vol. 4, hadith no.209, and the text has authentic books.

What is Hijama . . . ?

Hijama (cupping) is an ancient treatment in which evacuated cups are ap-plied to intact or scarified skin in order to draw blood toward or through the skin surface. It was used for disorders associated with an excess of blood, one of the four humors of medieval physiology.

A partial vacuum is created in the cup placed on the skin by either applying a heated cup to the skin allowed it to cool [Fire Cupping], or by applying a suction device [Suction Cupping] The name “cupping “is referred to using the cup as a tool for therapeutic purposes.

Cupping practitioner may use a cup made of glass, metal, or wood [notably bamboo] and burn alcohol, alcohol-soaked cotton, wool, herds. Paper, or a taper therein. Before or after the burning is complete. The practitioner applies the cup upside- down to a relatively flat body surface and leaves it in this position for five to ten minutes.

Cupping also has several forms, the above description relates to the fire cupping method, also called “Traditional Cupping” Other forms of cupping `include the air pumping method, in which the air inside the cups is pumped either manually or by means of a machine [a suction device] for creation of a vacuum.

Cupping Therapy as a complete cure treatment

1, What is Hijama (cupping)?

Hijama (cupping) is an ancient treatment in which evacuated cups are ap-plied to intact or scarified skin in order to draw blood toward or through the skin surface. It was used for disorders associated with an excess of blood, one of the four humors of medieval physiology.

A partial vacuum is created in the cup placed on the skin by either applying a heated cup to the skin allowed it to cool [Fire Cupping], or by applying a suction device [Suction Cupping] The name “cupping “is referred to using the cup as a tool for therapeutic purposes.

Cupping practitioner may use a cup made of glass, metal, or wood [notably bamboo] and burn alcohol, alcohol-soaked cotton, wool, herds. Paper, or a taper therein. Before or after the burning is complete. The practitioner applies the cup upside- down to a relatively flat body surface and leaves it in this position for five to ten minutes.

Cupping also has several forms, the above description relates to the fire cupping method, also called “Traditional Cupping” Other forms of cupping `include the air pumping method, in which the air inside the cups is pumped either manually or by means of a machine [a suction device] for creation of a vacuum.