06/03/2025
CUPPING HIJAMA WHEN FASTING – WILL IT BREAK THE FAST?
Many people wish to reap the benefits of cupping hijama when fasting, whether it be to treat ill health or to simply emulate the actions of the prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
Many questions arise around this topic and the aim of this article is to expand and clarify the already existing opinions and concerns that we receive from patients. Please note the Arabic word for Cupping is “Hijama”
Here are some of common questions raised that I will aim to answer.
Does having cupping done break a person’s fast? Has the person doing the cupping broken their fast? Is it allowed to do Cupping during Ramadan? Can you have fast even if you’ve just had cupping done? Cupping hijama when fasting?
The majority of scholars hold the opinion that cupping does NOT break the fast, however in cases where the person may become weak then it is Makruh ( disliked)
This topic of cupping hijama when fasting has several related hadeeth:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ احْتَجَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ صَائِمٌ.
Abdullah ibn Abbas r.a reported that the Messenger s.a.w was cupped while he was fasting. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5694)].
This hadeeth is taken by the majority of scholars and they hold the opinion that Cupping whilst fasting does not break your fast.
Other hadeeth supporting that sahaba would have cupping even whilst fasting:
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ثَابِتًا الْبُنَانِيَّ، يَسْأَلُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَكُنْتُمْ تَكْرَهُونَ الْحِجَامَةَ لِلصَّائِمِ قَالَ لاَ. إِلاَّ مِنْ أَجْلِ الضَّعْفِ. وَزَادَ شَبَابَةُ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“Anas bin Malik was asked whether they disliked the cupping for a fasting person. He replied in the negative and said, "Only if it causes weakness." (Bukhari 1940)
