History of Hijama - Cupping Therapy
The practice of cupping is over 5000 Years old. The effect has remained the same; only the cups and the techniques have changed over these many years. We can find the application of suction cups in the medicine of all “Primitive” people, as well as in the oldest civilizations. Reports about the art of cupping were already to be found in ancient Chinese and Egyptian medical scriptures.
​Cupping therapy is also referred to as hijama. The word Hijama in Arabic comes from the root al-hajm, which means “sucking”. Al-hajjaam is the name given to the cupping therapist, and Hijama is the name given to the profession. Hijama is an ancient practice which was widely used in folk medicine around the world and is still used by modern practitioners predominantly amongst the Muslim community.
It is a recommended for the whole of mankind. As Muslims we firmly believe that whatever was recommended to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
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The Prophet (SAW) said
“I have left among you two things, you will never go astray if you cling to them:
the book of Allah and my Sunnah,
And they will never be separated until they meet me at the hawd.”
(Bukhari)
Hijama Cupping was researched and recorded by some of the most famous Muslim Scholars and theorists. These individuals (Ibn Sina, Ibn Qayyim al- Jawziyyah, Al-Zahrawi, Galen, and Hippocrates) were renowned in the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, surgery, and religion. Their works hugely impacted western medicine and surgery throughout history.