Hadith Revive A Sunnah Sunnah

Revive a Sunnah: Hijama For Diseases


What happens when someone gets a headache or they feel sick? Either they take some medicine hoping for immediate relief, or they visit the doctor. But what did the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم do?



Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Messenger said, “Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping (hijama)…”


Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger صل الله عليه و سلم said, “If there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is cupping (hijama).”

[Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan Ibn Majah]

Hijama (cupping) is one the strongest sunnahs of the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم, but how many of us even think of it as a cure for our diseases? How many of us even know that something like hijama exists?

What is Hijama?

Hijama (حِجَمَة) comes from the root al-hajm, which means “sucking”. Cupping (hijama) is the process of applying cups to various points on the body by removing the air inside the cups to form a vacuum. This vacuum sucks out the diseased blood which is then poured into the cups by making small cuts to the skin and then disposed.

When performed properly, this is a safe process and there are no health risks in the process (unlike acupuncture, for example).

Proven Sunnah of the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم

Allah has made an amazing cure for us for all diseases in hijama. The Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم got hijama on his head, on his foot [Ibn Majah], on his neck [Abi Dawud], on his hip [Abi Dawud], etc.

The angels recommended to the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم that he recommend hijama to his ummah.

Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم said, “I did not pass by an angel from the angels on the night journey except that they all said to me: Upon you is cupping (hijama), O Muhammad.”

[Saheeh Sunan ibn Majah]

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud the angels said, “Oh Muhammad, order your nation with cupping (hijama).”

[Saheeh Sunan Tirmidhi]

Benefits of Hijama

Hijama is not just a reactionary medicine for a disease. It is actually a preventative measure that prevents diseases, in it is a cure for all diseases by the permission of Allah, it strengthens the memory, improves the intellect and prevents blood from getting hot [Ibn Majah]. For a list of ahadith on hijama, please click here.

Action Needed

Given hijama‘s importance, its benefits and that its a proven sunnah of the Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم, we must revive this sunnah in our lives by finding practitioners of hijama and get it performed on us.

Lastly, please spread the khair by:

  • Forwarding this to anyone who you know will benefit.
