Are There Any Days on Which Cupping Therapy Is Prohibited?
The Islamic Ruling and Clarifying Opinions Between Sunnah and Innovation
Cupping therapy is one of the legitimate therapeutic practices reported from the Noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Its virtue has been firmly established in the authentic Sunnah. However, the issue of prohibiting cupping on certain days is among the most commonly misunderstood topics, where confusion often arises between authentic hadiths
and weak narrations, as well as between sound Islamic understanding and popular folklore.
In this article, we provide a scholarly and well-documented answer to the following question:
Are there any days in which cupping therapy is religiously prohibited?
Along with presenting the opinions of scholars and reliable references.
What Is Cupping Therapy in Islam?
Cupping therapy is an established Prophetic treatment. It has been authentically reported in the two Sahih collections
that the Prophet ﷺ underwent cupping, encouraged it, and described it as among the most beneficial treatments.
It is a therapeutic practice that is permissible in principle without any disagreement among scholars.
Hadiths That Prohibit Cupping on Specific Days
It has become widespread among people to avoid cupping on certain days, such as:
- Saturday
- Wednesday
- Other specific days of the week
All hadiths reported regarding the prohibition of cupping on these days are either weak or fabricated,
and therefore cannot be relied upon in Islamic rulings.
This has been explicitly stated by a number of early and later scholars.
The Correct Islamic Ruling Regarding Cupping Days
Authoritative Juristic Conclusion:
- There is no day that is religiously prohibited for cupping therapy
- Cupping therapy is permissible on all days of the week
- It is also permissible on all days of the month
- It is recommended in the middle of the lunar (Hijri) month
- The best days are: the 17th, 19th, and 21st of the lunar month
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“I have not heard of anyone among the people of knowledge who disliked cupping on any day.”
The Difference Between Religious Timing and Medical Timing for Cupping
First: Religious Timing
Cupping therapy is divided into two types:
- Prophetic (Preventive) Cupping
and it is preferred:- On the prophetic days (17th – 19th – 21st)
- In the middle of the lunar month
- When the moon is full
Second: Medical Timing
- Medical therapeutic cupping is performed when needed
- It is not restricted to specific days
- The purpose is to treat an existing medical condition
Important Notice
There is no authentic narration from the Prophet ﷺ that prohibits cupping on a specific day of the week or month.
All reports suggesting such prohibitions are not valid for legal evidence.
The basic ruling regarding cupping therapy is permissibility whenever a person needs it.
Religious and Scientific References
This article relies on the statements of scholars as documented in the following sources:
Books of Sunnah
- Sunan Abu Dawood
- Sunan At-Tirmidhi
- Sunan Ibn Majah
- Musnad Imam Ahmad
Books of Commentary and Fiqh
- Zad al-Ma‘ad fi Hady Khayr al-‘Ibad – Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
- Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari – Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani
- At-Tamhid lima fi al-Muwatta’ min al-Ma‘ani wa al-Asanid – Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr
Statements of Scholars
- Imam Malik ibn Anas
- Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
- Imam An-Nawawi
