Can a Fasting Person Have Cupping Done?

[Umm]

I've heard conflicting views on whether it's allowed to have hijaamah done whilst fasting. Is it allowed? Does anyone know?

wasalam.

[Nu7]

Wa 'Alaykum As-Salaam,

I have a read a fatwa on islamqa.com that it is not permissible since it is one of the things which break the fast. Same with donating blood.

I'll see if I can find it for you..

[Nu7]

Does taking blood from a person’s body using a needle invalidate the fast or not?.

Praise be to Allaah.

If the blood that is taken from him is regarded as being a small amount, then he does not have to make up that day. But if it is considered to be a large amount, then he should make up that day so as to avoid an area of scholarly dispute and so as to be on the safe side and be sure that he has fulfilled his duty.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/263

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about taking blood in Ramadaan for the purpose of testing. He replied:

Such tests do not invalidate the fast, rather they are forgiven because they are something that is necessary and they are not like the things that are known in sharee’ah to invalidate the fast.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/133

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen said:

If a person donates blood and a large amount is taken, that invalidates his fast, by analogy with cupping, which refers to the act of letting blood flow from the veins in order to relieve sickness or so that this blood may be stored for emergencies. But if it is a small amount then that does not invalidate the fast, such as taking a small amount with a needle for the purpose of testing.

Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/133.

http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/37780/cupping

[Nu7]

Definition of the blood which invalidates the fast


Question:

I want to ask about the amount of blood coming from the body of a person which invalidates the fast. I suffer from piles (haemorrhoids). That has been for a long time and is not regular, and it may be accompanied by bleeding, the amount of which is approximately half a coffee cup.

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

We ask Allaah to bless you with a speedy recovery.

Because this bleeding is caused by sickness, your fast is still valid, and you do not have to do anything even if the blood is a large amount, so long as it comes out without you doing anything (to cause it).

The guidelines concerning the blood that invalidates the fast are as follows:

1 – If the blood comes out as the result of a person’s actions or choice; this is subject to further discussion:

(i) If the blood comes out by means of cupping, this invalidates the fast, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The cupper and the one to whom cupping is done both break their fast.”

(ii) If it comes out by a means other than cupping, such as venesection (opening a vein). If the amount is large and that has an effect on the person’s body, then this invalidates his fast (such as donating blood). If the amount is small and it does not harm the person, then it does not invalidate his fast, such as the small amount of blood that is taken for testing.

2 – If the blood comes out through no deliberate action, such as an accident or nosebleed or an injury to any part of the body, his fast is still valid even if the amount of blood is large.

This is the summary of a fatwa issued by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen. See Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/132

But if the blood that comes out through no deliberate action is of such a large amount that he becomes weak and unable to fast, then it is permissible for him to break his fast and he should fast another day to make up for it.
Islam Q&A

[Umm]

Jazakullah khair br Nu7 for such a speedy response. This hadith that you quoted is the one my husband had read:
(i) If the blood comes out by means of cupping, this invalidates the fast, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The cupper and the one to whom cupping is done both break their fast.”But islamqa also mentions in this fatwa (http://islamqa.com/en/ref/14325/hijaamah%20fasting) that the prophet (SAW) had cupping done while fasting:

Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated by means of cupping:
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated with cupping when he was in ihraam [a special state of devotion at the time of pilgrimage to Makkah], and he was treated with cupping when he was fasting.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1836.


Unless one hadith abrogated the other?

It's for my husband btw. He's had 2 sessions done, and the next one is due this month.

[Nu7]

Good question, sister. Insha Allah maybe one of the more knowledgable members can help answer it.

I think this could be an answer:

"If the blood that is taken from him is regarded as being a small amount, then he does not have to make up that day. But if it is considered to be a large amount, then he should make up that day so as to avoid an area of scholarly dispute and so as to be on the safe side and be sure that he has fulfilled his duty."

So it looks like it has something to do with the amount of blood? Although the Shaykh says that it is an area of scholarly dispute.