“Ruqyah Cupping” — A Call for Clarity and Accountability
“Ruqyah Cupping” — A Call for Clarity and Accountability
There’s a growing concern in our community that must be addressed—with wisdom, sincerity, and a deep sense of responsibility. Hijama, a beautiful Sunnah and healing practice, is being misrepresented and misused under the label of “Ruqyah Cupping.” And it’s time we speak up.
This post is not a blanket accusation. It’s a heartfelt reminder—first and foremost to myself, and then to my fellow practitioners and sisters in the field. I do not engage with male practitioners, so my observations are based solely on what I’ve seen, heard, or been shown from among the sisters.
What Is Happening?
A new patient came into my practice and shared her experience with a sister who performs what she calls “Ruqyah Cupping.” During the session, this practitioner claimed to read the blood and diagnose things like:
• Whether someone has the evil eye or sihr (black magic)
• Whether a spouse is cheating
• Whether someone has bad intentions toward the patient
I’ve seen messages and videos of these sessions. SubhanAllah… what are we doing?
Some claim to see faces in the blood. Others say the cup becomes foggy, which they interpret as a sign of jinn possession. Some even advise women to leave their husbands based on what they “read” in the blood.
This is not ruqyah. This is not hijama. This is fortune-telling.
⚠️ A Dangerous Line: Claiming the Unseen
Let’s be clear: claiming knowledge of the unseen is a serious matter. Allah says in the Qur'aan :
عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا - إِلَّا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍۢ
(He alone is) the All-Knower of the Ghayb (Unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghayb (Unseen), except to a Messenger whom He has chosen
— [Al-Jinn 72:26–27]
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْغَيْبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ
Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghayb except Allah.
— [Al-Naml 27:65]
Reading blood to diagnose sihr, infidelity, or jinn possession is no different than reading coffee cups or tea leaves. It falls under the same category as astrology, palm-reading, and other practices of jahiliyyah that Islam came to abolish.
Back to Basics: What Is Hijama?
Hijama is a prophetic medical treatment. It involves removing stagnant blood from beneath the skin to promote healing. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Healing is in three things: the incision of the cupper, drinking honey, and cauterization with fire—but I forbid my ummah to use cauterization.”
— [Bukhari 5356]
He ﷺ was treated with hijama while fasting, while in ihram, and for migraines. Angels advised him during the Night Journey:
“You should use cupping, O Muhammad.”
— [Silsilah al-Saheehah 2263]
Hijama is a Sunnah. It is not a tool for divination.
Ruqyah Is Real—But It Has Boundaries
Ruqyah is a legitimate and powerful healing method when done correctly. It involves reciting Qur’an and authentic du‘a over someone who is ill, affected by sihr, or harmed. The Prophet ﷺ said:
لا بأس بالرقى ما لم تكن شركًا
“There is nothing wrong with ruqyah so long as it does not involve shirk.”
— [Muslim]
Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, and the Mu‘awwidhatayn are among the most effective verses for ruqyah. But it must be done with sincerity, tawheed, and knowledge—not theatrics or fabricated rituals.
The Issue of Ta'weedh (Taweez and Amulets)
Some practitioners go further and create taweez (amulets) during these sessions. This is dangerous. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إن الرقى والتمائم والتولة شرك
Spells, amulets, and love-charms are shirk.
— [Abu Dawud 3883; Ibn Majah 3530]
Healing comes from Allah alone. Not from symbols, charms, or blood readings.
💡 A Reminder to All Practitioners
Let’s fear Allah in all we do. Hijama is not a gimmick. It’s not a performance. It’s not a shortcut to fame or fortune. It’s a sacred trust and a Sunnah that deserves respect.
If you believe you can read blood and diagnose illnesses with your eyes—perhaps a laboratory would benefit from your talents. But don’t taint this noble practice with innovation and falsehood.
Let’s return to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Let’s protect the integrity of hijama. Let’s correct our niyyah and uphold the trust our patients place in us.
Islam is Haqq. Its teachings are flawless. Alhamdulillah.
-Raeesah Sayanvala