Is Hijamah Effective in Removing Toxins from the Blood?

Ibnul-Qayyim said: When the prophet ﷺ had Hijamah performed he was cupped upon the Kahil (upper-mid back, just below the neck). This is the closest point by way of which (the effect of) cupping reaches the heart. The substance of the poison was extracted along with the blood, but not completely. Rather, traces of it remained, although it was weakened due to what Allah wanted (decreed) to bring about from the completion of all the levels of virtue for him. So when Allah wanted to bring about martyrdom for him the hidden traces of that poison reappeared so that Allah could bring about a matter that He had decreed, and in order that the subtlety in His statement to His enemies from the Jews could be made evident:

﴿أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَى أَنفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ﴾

But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you kill. (Al-Baqarah 2:87)

The word كَذَّبْتُمْ “…you belied,” came in the past tense while the word تَقْتُلُونَ “…you kill,” came in the future tense, indicating something that is expected and awaited.

Translator’s Note: To add perspective, the Battle of Khaybar was approximately the year 629 CE, after which he was given the poisoned lamb by the Jew woman. He ﷺ died in 632 CE. Ibnul-Qayyim is saying that by the permission of Allah the Hijamah was effective in staving off the toxic effect of the poison, until Allah decreed to bring about His decree and ennoble His prophet ﷺ.

Source: Zad Al-Ma’ad

Translated by Raha Batts