that he paid Al-Muqanna a visit during his illness and said, "I will not leave till he gets cupped, for I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "There is healing in cupping."
Exposition of Hadith on Cupping
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (5697) in the Book of Medicine establishes the prophetic endorsement of cupping (hijama) as a legitimate therapeutic practice. The companion's insistence on administering this treatment demonstrates the weight given to the Prophet's medical guidance.
Scholarly Commentary on Healing in Cupping
The phrase "There is healing in cupping" indicates that this traditional therapy contains beneficial properties for certain ailments. Scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim explain that cupping extracts corrupted blood from the body's surface, relieving pressure and restoring balance to the humors.
Imam al-Nawawi notes that this hadith does not mean cupping is a cure for all diseases, but rather that it contains healing properties for specific conditions where its application is appropriate, particularly those related to blood impurities and stagnation.
Practical Implementation and Wisdom
The companion's practical application—visiting the sick and insisting on this treatment—demonstrates how prophetic medicine should be implemented: with conviction in its benefits while recognizing it as a means through which Allah grants cure.
Classical physicians like Ibn Sina incorporated cupping into medical practice while understanding its mechanism aligns with maintaining the body's natural balance, illustrating the harmony between revealed knowledge and empirical observation in Islamic medicine.