Hijama (Cupping): The Prophetic Practice Explained
Hijama — cupping — is one of the most well-known practices of Prophetic medicine, and one of the most strongly encouraged in the authentic Sunnah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described cupping as among the best of the treatments available, was himself treated with it, and paid the person who performed it. Today, hijama has seen a revival across the Muslim world and beyond, practised both as a religious Sunnah and as part of the wider tradition of cupping therapy. But hijama is also a subject surrounded by many weak and unverified narrations, and by health claims that go well beyond what can honestly be supported. This guide explains hijama as a prophetic practice: the authentic Hadith behind it, what cupping actually is, its types, and honest, measured guidance for anyone considering it.
Sidr & Stone produces prophetic foods rooted in the same Sunnah tradition — see our cold-pressed Ethiopian black seed oil and our cold-pressed organic olive oil from Marrakech.
Our black seed oil is pressed from organically grown Ethiopian highland Nigella sativa, but it is not certified organic: formal organic certification is hard to obtain in the Ethiopian highlands, so we tell you how the seed is grown rather than claim a certificate we do not hold.
The Short Answer
- Hijama is the Arabic term for cupping — a practice in which suction is applied to the skin, in wet cupping followed by light superficial incisions to draw a small amount of blood
- It is strongly encouraged in the authentic Sunnah — the Prophet ﷺ described it as among the best of treatments (Sahih al-Bukhari 5696)
- The Prophet ﷺ was himself treated with cupping, including while in the state of ihram, and paid the cupper (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
- Many narrations circulate about hijama — including specific "best days" and specific cures — that are weak or unverified; this guide uses only authenticated Hadith
- Two main types: dry cupping (suction only) and wet cupping (suction with light superficial incisions) — wet cupping is what is specifically meant by hijama in the prophetic context
- Hijama should be performed only by a trained, hygienic practitioner using sterile equipment
- Hijama is a traditional practice; it is not a substitute for medical care, and anyone with a health condition should consult a doctor
What Is Hijama?
Hijama (Arabic: الحجامة) is the practice of cupping — applying cups to the surface of the skin to create suction. The word derives from the Arabic root hajama, which carries the sense of drawing out or sucking.
There are two principal forms:
Dry cupping
In dry cupping, cups are applied to the skin and suction is created — traditionally by briefly heating the air inside the cup, in modern practice often with a pump. The suction draws the skin and superficial tissue up into the cup. No incisions are made and no blood is drawn. The cups are left in place for a few minutes, then removed.
Wet cupping
Wet cupping is the form most specifically associated with hijama in the prophetic tradition. It involves two stages: first, suction is applied as in dry cupping; then the cups are removed, very light superficial scratches or incisions are made on the skin, and the cups are reapplied so that suction draws out a small quantity of blood. This is the practice the classical sources describe when they speak of the Prophet ﷺ being "cupped."
A related practice sometimes mentioned is "massage cupping" or moving cupping, in which oiled cups are moved across the skin — but the two forms above are the principal ones, and wet cupping is the hijama of the Sunnah.
Hijama in the Authentic Hadith
Hijama is unusually well-attested in the authentic Hadith literature. Unlike some practices surrounded mainly by weak narrations, the core encouragement of cupping rests on Hadith of the highest authenticity. It is important, though, to separate these authentic narrations from the many weaker ones that also circulate — and this guide uses only the authenticated material.
Cupping among the best of treatments
In a Hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (5696), narrated from Anas ibn Malik (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said, regarding cupping:
"The best of the treatments you have is cupping."
The same narration of Anas (RA) is recorded with the wording "the most virtuous of what you treat with is cupping," and the Hadith is graded Hasan Sahih. This is among the strongest narrations on the subject.
Cupping among the three sources of healing
In the Hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (5681), narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA), the Prophet ﷺ named cupping among three sources of healing:
"Healing is in three things: a gulp of honey, cupping, and cauterisation with fire. But I forbid my Ummah from cauterisation."
Cupping is named alongside honey — and notably, while the Prophet ﷺ forbade cauterisation, he did not forbid cupping; it stands as an encouraged practice.
"There is healing in it"
In Sahih al-Bukhari (5697), it is narrated that Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) visited a man who was ill, al-Muqanna, and said he would not leave until the man was cupped — because he had heard the Prophet ﷺ say:
"Indeed, there is healing in cupping."
The Prophet ﷺ was himself cupped
The authentic Hadith record that the Prophet ﷺ did not only recommend cupping — he was treated with it himself. It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ was cupped and paid the person who performed the cupping. It is also recorded (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) that he was cupped on his head while in the state of ihram during pilgrimage. The narration of Anas (RA) describes the cupper Abu Taybah, whom the Prophet ﷺ rewarded with food and on whose behalf he interceded.
That the Prophet ﷺ underwent cupping himself, and rewarded the cupper, is part of why hijama is regarded as a Sunnah — an established practice of the Prophet ﷺ, not merely a verbal recommendation.
A note on weak narrations
It is important to be honest here. Alongside the authentic Hadith above, a large number of weaker narrations about hijama circulate widely — narrations specifying exact "best days" of the lunar month for cupping, narrations claiming cupping cures specific named conditions, narrations about cupping and intellect or memory, and others. Hadith scholars have graded many of these as weak (da'if) or disputed. This guide deliberately does not rely on them. The authentic basis for hijama as an encouraged Sunnah is secure on the strong narrations alone; the weak material is not needed and should not be presented as established.
Hijama in the Classical Tradition
Cupping was not unique to the Arabian Peninsula — it is one of the oldest therapeutic practices in human history, recorded in ancient Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, and other medical traditions. What the prophetic tradition did was give cupping a specific place within the framework of Tibb an-Nabawi, Prophetic medicine.
Classical scholars who wrote on Prophetic medicine — including Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya in the relevant section of his Zad al-Ma'ad — discussed cupping among the treatments of the Sunnah, addressing its practice and its place within the medical understanding of their era. Cupping continued to be practised across the Muslim world through the centuries as a familiar part of traditional medicine.
In recent decades, hijama has seen a notable revival — both among Muslims seeking to revive a Sunnah practice, and within the broader contemporary interest in traditional and complementary therapies. Cupping in general has also drawn modern attention, including its visible use by some athletes.
What the Modern Evidence Does and Doesn't Show
Honesty requires being clear about the state of modern evidence on cupping.
Cupping has been the subject of a range of modern studies, particularly for pain conditions. Some reviews have reported that cupping may offer benefit for certain types of pain, such as some musculoskeletal and back pain. However, the overall body of evidence is widely described by researchers as limited in quality — many studies are small, methods vary, and the risk of bias is often noted. The honest summary is that the evidence is mixed and not conclusive.
What this means practically: it would be wrong to claim, on the basis of current science, that hijama treats or cures specific diseases. It would equally be wrong to dismiss the practice. The measured position is that cupping is a traditional practice with a long history, that some people report benefit particularly for pain, that the rigorous evidence is limited, and that it should never be used as a replacement for medical care.
For a Muslim, the encouragement of hijama in the authentic Sunnah stands on its own footing — it is a Sunnah because the Prophet ﷺ practised and encouraged it. That religious status does not depend on modern trials, and modern trials neither establish nor refute it. The two are separate kinds of knowledge, and there is no need to force them together.
Safety and Choosing a Practitioner
Because wet cupping involves breaking the skin, safety and hygiene are genuinely important. Anyone considering hijama should take this seriously.
Hygiene is essential
- Wet cupping must be performed with sterile, single-use blades and equipment, or properly sterilised equipment
- Cups should be single-use or thoroughly sterilised between clients
- The practitioner should follow proper infection-control practices, including gloves and clean technique
- Because blood is involved, poor hygiene carries a real risk of infection or blood-borne disease transmission — this is not a minor consideration
Choosing a practitioner
- Choose a trained, experienced practitioner with proper hygiene standards and, where applicable, appropriate registration or certification
- The premises should be clean and professional
- Don't choose a practitioner on price alone — hygiene and competence matter far more
- A good practitioner will take a brief health history and advise honestly, including advising against hijama where it isn't appropriate
Who should be cautious or avoid hijama
- People with bleeding disorders, or those taking blood-thinning medication
- People with anaemia
- Pregnant women
- People with certain skin conditions, or skin that is broken or inflamed in the area
- People with diabetes or conditions affecting healing
- Anyone with a significant health condition — who should speak to their doctor first
- The frail, the very elderly, and young children
If you have any health condition or take any regular medication, speak to your doctor before considering hijama. A trustworthy practitioner will support this, not discourage it.
Hijama and the Prophetic Tradition of Wellbeing
Hijama sits within a broader prophetic approach to health and wellbeing — one that combined practices like cupping with attention to diet, the honoured prophetic foods, moderation, cleanliness, rest, and the spiritual dimension of turning to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ did not treat health as a single thing addressed by a single practice. The same Sunnah that encourages hijama also encourages the honoured foods — honey, named alongside cupping in the very same Hadith of the three sources of healing; the black seed of the famous narration; olive oil, the blessed-tree oil of the Quran. It encourages moderation in eating, as in the well-known prophetic teaching on not over-filling the stomach. And it places all of this within a framework of gratitude and trust in Allah.
For anyone drawn to hijama as a Sunnah, it makes sense to see it this way — not as an isolated practice, but as one part of a whole prophetic pattern of caring for the body as an amanah, a trust from Allah. That pattern includes the foods of the Sunnah: a daily teaspoon of black seed oil, the use of olive oil as a staple, honey, dates, and the rest. For a fuller picture of the foods of the Sunnah, see our guide to prophetic foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hijama?
Hijama is the Arabic term for cupping — applying cups to the skin to create suction. In wet cupping (the form most associated with the Sunnah), suction is applied, very light superficial incisions are made, and the cups are reapplied to draw out a small amount of blood. Dry cupping uses suction only, without incisions.
Is hijama a Sunnah?
Yes. Hijama is strongly encouraged in the authentic Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ described cupping as among the best of treatments (Sahih al-Bukhari 5696), named it among three sources of healing (Sahih al-Bukhari 5681), was himself treated with cupping including while in ihram, and rewarded the person who performed it. These are authentic, high-grade narrations.
What did the Prophet ﷺ say about cupping?
In Sahih al-Bukhari 5696, the Prophet ﷺ said "the best of the treatments you have is cupping." In Sahih al-Bukhari 5681 he named cupping among three sources of healing alongside honey. In Sahih al-Bukhari 5697 he is reported to have said "indeed, there is healing in cupping." He was also himself treated with cupping, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
What is the difference between wet and dry cupping?
Dry cupping applies suction to the skin only — no incisions, no blood drawn. Wet cupping applies suction, then very light superficial incisions are made and the cups reapplied to draw out a small amount of blood. Wet cupping is the form most specifically associated with hijama in the prophetic tradition.
Are the "best days" for hijama authentic?
Narrations specifying exact lunar dates as the "best days" for cupping circulate very widely, but Hadith scholars have graded many of them as weak or disputed. The authentic basis for hijama as an encouraged Sunnah rests on the strong, high-grade narrations — which do not depend on specific dates. This guide deliberately does not present the "best days" narrations as established.
Does hijama cure diseases?
It would not be honest to claim hijama cures specific diseases. Cupping has been studied in modern research, particularly for some pain conditions, with mixed and limited-quality evidence. Hijama is a traditional practice with a long history; for a Muslim it is an encouraged Sunnah on the authority of the Hadith. But it is not a substitute for medical care, and anyone with a health condition should consult a doctor.
Is hijama safe?
Hijama is generally considered low-risk when performed properly — but because wet cupping breaks the skin, hygiene is essential. It must be done by a trained practitioner using sterile, single-use equipment and proper infection control. People with bleeding disorders, anaemia, diabetes, certain skin conditions, those on blood-thinning medication, and pregnant women should be cautious or avoid it, and should speak to a doctor first.
How do I choose a hijama practitioner?
Choose a trained, experienced practitioner with strict hygiene standards, sterile single-use equipment, clean professional premises, and where applicable appropriate certification. Don't choose on price alone. A good practitioner takes a brief health history and will honestly advise against hijama where it isn't suitable for you.
Final Thoughts
Hijama is one of the most firmly established practices of Prophetic medicine. Unlike some traditional practices surrounded mainly by weak narrations, the encouragement of cupping rests on authentic Hadith of the highest grade: the Prophet ﷺ called it among the best of treatments, named it among the sources of healing alongside honey, was himself treated with it, and rewarded the one who performed it. For a Muslim, that makes hijama a genuine Sunnah.
At the same time, honesty matters. Many narrations about hijama — specific "best days," specific cures — are weak or unverified, and should not be presented as established; the authentic basis stands without them. And in the modern, clinical sense, the evidence on cupping is mixed and limited: hijama is a traditional practice that some find beneficial, particularly for pain, but it is not a proven treatment for disease and is never a substitute for medical care.
Approached honestly — as an encouraged Sunnah, performed safely by a trained practitioner, within a broader prophetic pattern of caring for the body as a trust from Allah — hijama is a meaningful part of the prophetic tradition of wellbeing.
Sidr & Stone brings the foods of that same Sunnah tradition to the modern table. Our cold-pressed Ethiopian black seed oil — independently tested at 2.67% thymoquinone — is available now. Our cold-pressed organic olive oil from Marrakech is available to pre-order. Limited single-harvest batch, estimated shipping from November 2026. Two honoured prophetic foods, part of the same tradition of caring for the body that hijama belongs to.
Our extra virgin olive oil is grown organically on our own single-estate farm on the plains outside Marrakech: we control every step from tree to bottle, and no synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers are used. It is not yet certified organic — certification is in progress, and we will publish it as soon as it comes through.
References — Primary Hadith Sources
1. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5696, Book 76 (Kitab at-Tibb / Book of Medicine) — "the best of the treatments you have is cupping," narrated from Anas ibn Malik (RA), graded Hasan Sahih. Compiled by Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (d. 256 AH / 870 CE).
2. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5681, Book 76 — healing in three things, including cupping; narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA).
3. Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5697, Book 76 — "indeed, there is healing in cupping"; the narration of Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) visiting al-Muqanna.
4. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim — narrations that the Prophet ﷺ was cupped and paid the cupper, and that he was cupped on his head while in ihram.
5. Sahih Muslim — narration of Umm Salamah (RA) and the cupper Abu Taybah. Compiled by Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 261 AH / 875 CE).
6. Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3476 — "if there is anything excellent in your remedies, it is in hijama," narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA). Compiled by Imam Ibn Majah al-Qazwini (d. 273 AH / 887 CE).
References — Classical Scholarship
7. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH / 1350 CE). Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad, Section on Prophetic Medicine — discussion of cupping.
References — Modern
8. Al-Bedah AMN, Elsubai IS, Qureshi NA, et al. (2019). The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 9(2), 90-97.
9. Cao H, Li X, Liu J. (2012). An updated review of the efficacy of cupping therapy. PLOS ONE, 7(2), e31793.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes about hijama (cupping) as a practice within the prophetic tradition. Hadith translations follow authenticated Sunni sources verified through sunnah.com; many widely circulated narrations about hijama are weak and are deliberately not relied upon here. Hijama is a traditional practice, not a substitute for medical care, and modern evidence on cupping is limited and mixed. Wet cupping involves breaking the skin and must be performed only by a trained practitioner using sterile equipment and proper hygiene. Anyone with a health condition, bleeding disorder, anaemia, diabetes, who is pregnant, or who takes regular medication should consult a doctor before considering hijama. For any health concern, consult a qualified medical professional.