Using Cupping (Hijama) to Cure Illnesses

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: The prophet said ‘Whoever performs cupping (hijama) on the 17th, 19th or 21st day (of the Islamic, lunar month) then it is a cure for every disease.” [Saheeh Sunan abi Dawud (3861)]. Did the prophet mean whoever does hijama on these days there is a high chance Allah will cure them from disease? He did not mean whoever does hijama on these days will definitely be cured from all disease, correct?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever performs cupping on the 17th, 19th and 21st day of the month, it is a cure from every disease.” [Sunan Abu Dawud]

The verifiers note that this tradition (hadith) is weak as understood from al-`Ayni and Ibn Hajar in their respective commentaries on the Sahih of Imam Bukhari.

Munawi, commentating on the tradition (hadith), notes that what is intended by “a cure from every disease” are those diseases that are from excess blood, and not simply a cure from “every” disease. [Fayd al-Qadir]

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani