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The author mentioned six ahaadith in this chapter, wherein the use of cupping - cautering on different occasions have been mentioned. The object is to show that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam used medicines for body treatments, and that this is not against tawakkul (complete reliance of Allah), because who can have more trust and reliance in Allah than Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. Considering all this, we find in many ahaadith that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam used the treatment of cupping, and the fact is, that it is not against reliance on Allah. Shah Waliyullah Dehlawi has in one of his books, compiled many of his mubash-sha-raat (glad tidings), mukaa-sha-faat (divine inspirations) and questions put forward to Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam in his dreams that: 'I once asked Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam a spiritual question that, what is better, to adopt material means, or to discard it'. Upon this I received a spiritual blessing from Rasulullah Sallalhu 'Alayhi Wasallam. As a result I began feeling apathetic towards material means, children and all other things. After that I was inspired, the effect of which was that my nature would turn towards material means, and the soul towards the acceptance and entrusting oneself to Allah. The fact is that this is the true tawwakul (complete trust in Allah, passive living), one feels that material things in themselves have no effect at all, and their effects are only from Allah. Without the wish of Allah, nothing can be done.
(343) Hadith Number 1.
Anas Radiyallahu'Anhu was asked regarding the payment to a hajjaam
(cupper). (Is it permissible or not?) Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu replied:
"Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam took the treatment of cupping which
was administered by Abu Taybah Radiyallahu 'Anhu, he was given two saa'
food (in a narration it is mentioned that dates were given), and Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam interceded on his behalf to his master
that the stipulated amount he was responsible for be made less. He also
said this, that cupping is the best of medicine".
Commentary
When Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam himself paid
the price, then the answer to the question is apparent. It is possible
that the aim of the question was this, that in a few ahaadith this occupation
has been scorned. The reason being, that blood has to be sucked out which
is an unclean thing, therefore, it is essential that one be careful, and
care be taken that the mouth be kept paak at all times. In the same manner,
the same has been said in the ahaadith regarding some other occupa- tions.
As a result it created doubt and perplexities in the minds of some people,
whereas, the meaning of the narations is simple and clear. Whatever Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said regarding an occupation there
was something in it that one had to be careful about, and which needed
to be remedied. In the above hadith, by 'income' is meant, that a slave
is given the opportunity, that if he agrees to pay daily a certain amount,
he is given a limited freedom. The extra that he earns belongs to him.
This type of slave is called 'Abd Ma'dhu,. It was originally stipulated
that this slave pay three saa' daily. By the intercession of Sayyidina
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam one was made less after which there
remained only two 2 saa' to be paid daily. There is a difference of opinion
among the 'ulama regarding the weight of the saa'. According to the Hanafi
jurists a saa' equals approximately four seers (approx. 3,8kg). The saying
of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam that cupping is the
best medicine is very true. By this he was addressing the youth of the
Haramayn, and also the inhabitants of the countries where the climate is
hot, because their blood becomes thin, it remains more on the surface of
the body and the climate of the country brings it even more closer to the
surface.
Therefore the 'ulama say it is not advisable for those above the age
of forty to take the treatment of cupping.
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(344) Hadith Number 2.
'Ali Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam
once took the treatment of cupping and asked me to pay its fees. I paid
the hajjaam (cupper) his fees".
Commentary
Two things are also apparent from this hadith. Using the treatment
of cupping and paying its fees.
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(345) Hadith Number 3.
Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu said that Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam took the treatment of cupping on both sides of his neck and between
his shoulders, and paid the cupper his fees. If it had been haraam, he
wold not have paid it.
Commentary
As the blood has to be sucked out by the mouth, for this reason in
some ahaadith this occupation and its income have been scorned, as has
been mentioned previously. In some ahaadith its income has been declared
undesirable and wicked. Due to this, some 'ulama say its fees are not permissible
Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal has reconciled the two in this manner, that the prohibition
is for free people and not for slaves. Since Abu Taybah Radiyallahu'Anhu
was a slave, there remains no perplexity in paying a fee. Ibnul Jauzi says,
it has been declared (a remuneration) wicked because, it is among the necessities
of a Muslim, and to help another Muslim is waajib, therefore no remuneration
should be taken, and this service should be rendered without a charge.
The 'ulama have many views on this. Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu has through
this hadith proved its permissibility, and says if it was not permissible,
Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam would not have paid a fee.
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(346) Hadith Number 4.
Ibn 'Umar Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam called a hajjaam, who treated Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam.
Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam inquired from him what tax or duty
did he have to pay daily? He replied, three saa'. Rasulullah Sallallahu
'Alayhi Wasallam had it reduced to two saa', and gave him his remuneration".
Commentary
Apparently this is the same hadith about Abu Taybah Radiyallahu 'Anhu
mentioned in the first hadith of this chapter. In the beginning he had
to pay his master three saa', then Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam had it reduced to two saa'.
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(347) Hadith Number 5.
Anas bin Maalik Radiyallahu 'Anhu said: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam used the treatment of cupping on both sides of his mubaarak neck
and between both shoulders, and generally took this treatment on the seventeenth,
nineteenth or the twenty first of the (lunar) month".
Commentary
In some ahaadith, the benefit of these dates are also mentioned. The
unaani hakims also agree with this. It is reported that Ibn Sina said it
is not beneficial to take treatment of cupping in the beginning and end
of the month, this treatment should be taken in the middle of the (lunar)
month. From this hadith we find that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi
Wasallam took this treatment many times, and on different days, and from
the ahaadith that follow, we also find that it was taken at different places.
The Jews gave Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam strong poison
in his food. They intended to kill him, so that the question of their opposition
may be eliminated. Although
Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam did not eat the whole
portion of the poisoned meat, but the effect of the portion eaten was,
that it used to trouble him at different times, especially in the summer
the effects used to occur frequently. The place where it used to pain the
treatment of cupping was applied. As poison mixes into the blood stream,
its effects and pains are felt on different parts of the body.
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(348) Hadith Number 6
Anas bin Maalik Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu
'Alayhi Wasallam took treatment of cupping on the back of his leg at Milal
(a place about seventeen miles-27 km-from Madinah Munawwarah in the direction
of Makkah) while he was in the state of ihraam".
Commentary
According to some a-immah, it is makruh to take the treatment of cupping
in the state of ihraam. According to the Hanafis it is permissible, provided
that hair does not break off. In these narrations the use of cupping (cautering)
is mentioned numerous times. In the kitaabs of hadith too the sayings and
deeds of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam are mentioned
regarding the treatment of cupping, but the treatment of fasd (phlebotomy-blood-letting
as a medical operation) is not mentioned, whereas, according to the tibbi
hakims, the treatment of phlebotomy is more beneficial than cupping, and
is a cure for many illnesses. The reason for this is that both are not
unconditionally beneficial, both have their peculiarities. The land of
Hijaaz is hot, as stated before, cupping is more beneficial for this country.
Hot and cold temperatures have altogether different effects on temperaments.
In hot countries, and other countries in summer the heat of the body comes
out to the outer part of the body, and the effect of coolness remains in
the inner parts of the body. For this reason one perspires a great deal
in summer, and because of the inner coolness foods take longer to digest,
and many illnesses occur. In cold countries, and in winter the heat of
a person's body goes to the inner portion of the body due to the cold.
As a result the food digesting organs are strengthened. Vapour emits from
the urine, and diseases decrease. According to the saying of Baqraat, in
cold temperatures the inner parts of the body become warmer, more sleep
is experienced, and food is digested easily. For this reason rich foods
digest easily in winter, and take more time in summer. This is also the
reason honey, dates and other heat creating foods do not affect the people
of Hijaaz. In cupping, the blood on the outer part of the body is removed,
and in Hijaaz the heat is more on the outer parts of the body, therefore,
cupping is more beneficial there. In phlebotomy blood is let from the veins
and inner part of the body, there for it will not be beneficial there.
For this reason, it is not mentioned that Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu
'Alayhi Wasallam used the treatment of phlebotomy.
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