The word hijaamah (cupping) comes from the word hajm which means sucking, as in the phrase hajama al-sabiy thadya ummihi (the infant suckled his mother's breast). Al-Hajjaam means the cupper, hijaamah is the profession of cupping, and the word mihjam is used to describe the vessel in which the blood is collected and the lancet used by the cupper.)
In fiqh (Jurisprudence) terminology, the word hijaamah is applied by some scholars to the extraction of blood from the nape of the neck by means of cupping after making an incision with the lancet. Al-Zarqaani stated that cupping is not limited to the nape of the neck, rather it may be done on any part of the body. This was also the view of al-Khattaabi .
In conclusion, hijaam refers to the extraction of blood from the body by means of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment serves the same purpose.
Cupping was known since ancient times. It was known to the Chinese, the Babylonians and the Pharaohs. Their relics and carved images indicate that they used cupping to treat some diseases. At first they used metal cups or bulls' horns, from which they would remove the air by sucking it out after placing the cup on the skin. Then they used glass cups from which they would remove the air by burning a piece of cotton or wool inside the cup.
Virtues of cupping:
Al-Bukhari narrated from Sa'eed Ibn Jubayr from Ibn 'Abbaas may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet said: 'Healing is in three things: drinking honey, the incision of a cupper, and cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my Nation to use cauterizing.'
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that Anas Ibn Maalik may Allah be pleased with him was asked about the earnings of the cupper, and he said:
The Messenger of Allah was treated with cupping by Abu Taybah may Allah be pleased with him. He ordered that he (Abu Taybah may Allah be pleased with him) should be given two saa' (quantity unit) of food, and he spoke with his masters so that they reduced what they used to take from his earnings. And he said: 'The best medicine with which you treat yourselves is cupping, or it is one of the best of your medicines.'
It was narrated that Jaabir Ibn 'Abdillaah may Allah be pleased with him said: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alyhi wa sallam say: 'If there is anything good in the medicines with which you treat yourselves, it is in the incision of the cupper, or a drink of honey or cauterization with fire, but I do not like to be cauterized.' (Al-Bukhari, Muslim).
Benefits of cupping:
Cupping has real benefits in treating many diseases, past and present. The diseases which have been treated by cupping and for which it has been of benefit by Allah's Leave include the following:
1Circulatory diseases
2Treating blood pressure and infection of the heart muscle
3Diseases of the chest and trachea
4Headache and pains in the eyes
5Pain in the neck and stomach, and rheumatic pain in the muscles
6Some diseases of the heart and chest, and pain in the joints
In addition, cupping may offer a unique treatment which may reduce pain, and it does not have any side-effects. For more information on the benefits of cupping see Zaad al-Ma'aad by Ibn Al-Qayyim .
How cupping is done:
The mouth of the cupping vessel (nowadays they use glass vessels) is placed on the skin at the site chosen for cupping. Then the cupper rarefies the air inside the vessel by burning a small piece of paper or cotton inside the vessel (the old method), so that the mouth of the vessel will cling to the skin. Sometimes a machine is used instead of the method described above. The vessel clings to the skin and is left for a period of three to ten minutes.
Then it is lifted off and a very small incision is made in the skin using a clean sharp instrument such as a razor blade or the like. Then the cup is put back in the same manner as described above, until it is filled with the bad blood that comes out of the veins. Then it is taken off, and may be put back once more if needed. When it is finished and the cup is taken away, a dry dressing is placed over the site of the incision.
Before ending we should point out that no one should undertake cupping except one who can do it well, because of the harm that may result if it is done by one who is incompetent.
"The best thing with which to color your gray hair is henna or katm." [Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi]
Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah narrated that Abu Quhafa, the father of Abu Bakr came on the day of the conquest of Makkah with his hair and beard extremely white. The Prophet said: “Change his hair color with something and do not use black.”
Salmah, the Prophet's maid, said: “Anyone who complained to the Prophet from pain in his head, he would say to him, ‘cup it.’ And when complained from pain in the foot, he would tell him, ‘Dye it with henna.’” [Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]
She also said: “Whenever the Prophet had an ulcer, fester or eczema, he ordered me to put henna on it.” [Authentic, Jaami' Al-Usool by Ibn Al-Atheer]
Henna has been utilized since ancient times as a dye to color the nails, hands, feet and hair. The traditional henna is manufactured from a plant known as Lawsonia Alba. This plant is cultivated in Saudi Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Egypt, North Africa and Australia among others.
The effective dye component of henna is called Lawsone. It consists of fat, resin, manitol and volatile oils.
It is mentioned in the Islamic Encyclopedia of Medicine that the ancient Egyptians used henna in mummification.
The Egyptian henna is typically a green substance that gives the hair a reddish brown color. Other colors are obtained by adding other dyes to the natural henna. Some women in Sudan add a substance called paraphenylen ediamine to the henna to reduce the time needed for dyeing from an hour to several minutes. But this mixture can be fatal although its cause is unknown and this is why people who apply henna are warned against adding this substance. Henna in itself is safe and doesn't have any known side effects. It is 100% natural. The henna found in different brands of shampoos in stores and pharmacies is free of this substance.
Recent medical researches:
Many people in recent years have been inclined to use natural substances. The idea of returning to using some old substances that were once used as cosmetics is gaining ground in the medical field. One of these substances is henna. If we look at the different haircare products available off-the-shelf like shampoos, conditioners, hair color and hair creams, we will find that much of them contain henna.
This substance is described in the Hadeeths as being the best source for hair dyeing. What is the scientific evidence that encourage the return to the use of henna?
An American magazine specializing in skin diseases, Cutis, once published an article about henna in its first edition in 1986. Dr. Natu is a famous professor of skin disease from New York University in America, stated that henna has several benefits, the most important being as follows:
1. Its effects are not permanent. It does not stick permanently to the roots of the hair like other artificial hair colors. Henna starts to fade after 3 to 6 weeks. It then disappears completely and leaves no residue.
2. Henna is compatible with all natural hair colors.
3. Henna enhances the natural color of hair and gives it shine. One would have to use it several times before any visible changes in color appear.
4. Henna strengthens each individual hair, restores damaged hair and prevents split ends. There are many different shampoos and conditioners that contain henna and do not give the hair any new color. They give it beauty and glow.
5. Extensive usage of henna is safe in comparison with other artificial substances. There are only rare cases of skin sensitivity.
Didn't the prophet say, “The best thing to color your hair with is henna and katam.” Recent medical evidence in our hands proves what the Prophet said. That is not strange because the Prophet said, “Henna is the best perfume for the people of Jannah.” If the henna is the preferred perfume in paradise, it is the ideal hair treatment on this earth.
