The Sunnah of Hijama: What the Prophet ﷺ Said

Long before "cupping" appeared on the treatment menus of Western spas and sports clinics, it was a practice the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke about directly, repeatedly, and in some of the clearest medical language found anywhere in the Hadith. For Muslims, Hijama isn't a wellness trend — it's a Sunnah, carried forward from the earliest generation of Islam to today.

This article walks through what the authentic narrations actually say about Hijama: why the Prophet ﷺ recommended it, when he had it performed, and what that means for how we practice it now.

"The Best of Remedies"

The most direct statement on Hijama comes from Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the two most authenticated collections of Hadith in Islam. The Messenger ﷺ, peace be upon him, said:

This isn't a passing mention — the statement is unambiguous. Of every remedy available at the time (and there were many, from honey to herbal preparations), Hijama is singled out by name as being among the best. Scholars of Hadith have noted that this narration alone elevates cupping from folk remedy to a recommended (mustahabb) practice within Islamic medicine.

Paired with Honey and the Quran

Ibn Majah records another narration that places Hijama alongside two of the most frequently cited remedies in Islamic tradition. The Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him, said:

Sahih al-Bukhari also records another often-quoted narration in which he combined Hijama with two other treatments. The Prophet ﷺ, peace be upon him, said:

Notice what happened here: of the three remedies mentioned, the Prophet ﷺ actively discouraged one (cauterisation, a harsh treatment involving burning the skin) while affirming Hijama. That distinction matters — it shows Hijama wasn't simply tolerated as "the medicine of the time," it was actively preferred.

Specific Days: The 17th, 19th, and 21st

Perhaps the most practically useful narration for anyone booking a session today is reported by Abu Hurairah (RA), who narrated that the Messenger ﷺ, peace be upon him, said:

These dates refer to the Hijri (lunar) calendar, not the Gregorian one — which is why the specific Gregorian date for "the 17th" shifts every month. We calculate these automatically on our Sunnah Hijama Days calendar, so you always know when the recommended dates fall.

It's worth noting that scholars differ on whether these specific dates are obligatory to observe or simply preferred timing — the consensus leans toward the latter. Hijama performed on any day still carries its benefit and its Sunnah; the 17th, 19th, and 21st are simply held to be especially blessed times to do so.

The Prophet ﷺ Practiced What He Recommended

Islamic scholarship draws a distinction between things the Prophet ﷺ merely spoke about and things he personally did. Hijama falls into the second category — multiple authentic narrations describe him ﷺ actually undergoing cupping, including reports of it being performed on his head and on his shoulder area, at points closely reflected in the Sunnah cupping locations (Al-Kahil, Al-Yafookh) still used by practitioners today.

This is part of why traditional Hijama practice places such emphasis on specific points on the body rather than simply cupping "wherever it hurts" — the Sunnah points carry both the weight of practice and, many practitioners find, genuine physiological relevance to circulation and nerve pathways in those areas.

What This Means for a Modern Session

Understanding the Hadith isn't just a historical exercise — it shapes how an authentic Hijama session should actually be run:

• Sterile, single-use equipment — the Sunnah calls for cleanliness; nothing in the tradition asks anyone to compromise on modern hygiene standards.
• Sunnah points prioritised — Al-Kahil, Al-Yafookh, and other traditional points are treated as a starting reference, not decoration.
• Timed around the lunar calendar where possible — while not obligatory, booking on the 17th, 19th, or 21st follows the explicit recommendation in the Hadith.
• Intention (niyyah) — approached as an act of following the Sunnah, not merely a physical treatment.

This is the standard we hold every session to. If you'd like to understand what a session actually involves step by step, our guide on how to prepare for your first Hijama session walks through exactly what to expect.