Hijama is an ancient bloodletting technique that has been in use in many countries to treat certain diseases or bodily disorders.  While the Chinese seems to have done a leading role in using this bloodletting technique to treat certain diseases, the Arabs have adopted it as a much-stressed Sunnah of the Prophet SAW.  The Europeans were also doing cupping to treat many diseases.  The difference between the Arabs or Muslims and others in doing hijama was not hidden since while believers were more interested to do hijama as the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW (without questioning about anything), others were doing it as a pure medical benefit.

What is Cupping or Hijama

Hijama or cupping is a safe, non-invasive and economical way of curing and preventing many diseases.  Though Chinese use of this method was limited to certain medical complications like lungs infection, colds, to treat internal organs’ disorders, joint pain, etc, the scope of hijama benefits is much higher than this limit.

The word ‘hijama’ means ‘drawing out’ in Arabic.  It is now being recognized as an alternative medicine or alternative way of treating different diseases and bodily disorders.  Modern medical science also endorses the various benefits of hijama and even encourages its practice in certain diseases.

In this non-surgical procedure, toxic or ‘bad’ blood is drawn out from the body.  Certain ‘hijama points’ on the body are addressed to do so.  On such selected points, blood is encouraged to accumulate and then sucked out by using a little vacuum system.  The blood is made to accumulate on the surface of the skin where minute incisions are introduced on the skin; the blood comes out from the incisions and is collected in a cup from where it is removed.

Importance of Hijama in the Divine Guidance

Instead of putting our words in favor of cupping, we must see the following ahadith that are enough to explain the importance of hijama.

“Indeed in hijama (cupping) there is a cure”.  – Saheeh Muslim

“Indeed, the best of remedies you have is hijama (cupping)”. – Saheeh Al Bukhari

“Hijama is the most helpful procedure for human beings to cure themselves”. – Saheeh Al Bukhari and Saheel Muslim

The importance of hijama in the divine guidance can further be stressed by the following words which were related to the Prophet SAW on the night of Israa (ascension to the heaven) by angles: “O Mohammed, order your ummah (people) with hijama (cupping)”. – Sahee Sunan Tirmidhi.

Benefits of Hijama

The first and top-level benefit of hijama for a believer is the reward he or she will get, both heavenly and worldly, after following a stressed Sunnah of the Prophet SAW.  Not only the believers but also anyone can openly observe or experience the benefits that are bestowed on the followers of the commands of Allah SWT and His Prophet SAW.  On the other hand, when we look at this bloodletting technique from a worldly perspective, we can find hijama has many benefits.

It is noted that hijama promotes the flow of energy in the blood.  It removes toxins and other waste material from the blood.  It helps fasten recovery time and people recover from diseases much faster after hijama.  Hijama is known to prevent many diseases and, therefore, can be considered one of the best preventive measures against many diseases.  Moreover, it is also noted that hijama can help those people as well who are under some magic spell or who are under the influence of some evil beings.

Hijama has no side effects as long as performed properly.  It is also worth noting that about 70% diseases or disorders are caused by the failure of blood to circulate properly in the body.  Furthermore, we get sick or our body organs fail to perform healthily when our blood keep circulating loaded with toxins and other impurities.  Unless the toxic waste is removed from the body or from the blood, not only we do not recover fast from a disease but also become easy victim to other diseases or disorder.  Hijama is the best way to remove the toxic waste from the blood stream, and the results will obviously be a healthy and properly functioning body.  We should never forget that this highly useful and recommended Sunnah of the Prophet SAW helps us in controlling many diseases such as infections, hypertension, circulatory diseases, pains, infertility, cancer, etc.