Al-Hijama and the Isra' Mikraj

Wanna know what we both husband and wife did last week?

We detoxisified the dirty blood in our body using the traditional blood cupping! Sounds scary to some people especially those who are afraid of the sight of blood, but interesting and adventurous to us who were so curious to know how it feels like after the treatment!

Blood cupping (also known as Al-Hijama) is one of the Sunnahs of our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. On the night when Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was ascended to the sky for Isra', he went through the process of blood cupping to clean and purify himself.  

 Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. said,

"I did not pass by any group of angels on the night of Al Isra', unless they said to me, O Muhammad, tell your Ummah to do Hijama."

(Reference: Ibn Majah, 3477)

The Prophet S.A.W. also said:

"If there is anything good in the medicines with which you treat yourselves, it is in the incision of the Hijama therapist, or a drink of honey or cauterization with fire, but I do not like to be cauterized."

(Reference: Muslim, 2205).

Muslim believers are encouraged to experience the blood cupping at least once in a life time. It is said that blood cupping is able to prevent from 93 critical/cronic illness! Masya-Allah!  You can read more of the information on Hijamah here in English language and here in Malay language.

  

The traditional cupping practitioner, who perfers to be known as Embong, has been helping people with various health problem for many years ever since he is a young lad. For each cupping session he will set a reasonable charge, depending on the number of cups used and the seriousness of the health problem. He told us that dirty (bad) blood creates lots of health problem, and that the most feared one is stroke. This dirty blood is restored under the skin surface and does not flow together within the clean (good) blood in the blood vessels. Gradually, it will become toxin that harms your body. 

First step is to suck out air from the cup using a special pump. When this is done, the cup will be attached to the scalp, it could not be removed easily, as if it is glued to the scalp. After a few minutes, a huge 'bump' will emerge in the cup due to the sucking effect. Embong will then remove the cup, make nine tiny wound using a sharp blade and then put the cup back on the scalp and suck the air out again.

Within a few seconds, the dirty blood will come out from the tiny wound made. Irrespective of how much dirty blood you store in your body, it will be sucked out slowly but effectively through the process.

So how do you decide if it is a dirty blood? If your blood colour is dark, brownish red and it has a thick texture, then that is dirty blood. Good blood (clean) should contain more hemoglobin and oxygen, which is reflected in its brighter (lighter) red colour. For comparison, the colour of dirty blood is like the one in the cup, and the colour of a clean blood should be similar to the colour of the shirt sleeve.

Once when the cup is about a quarter to half full, it is removed and replaced with new cup. My husband has to change the cup for seven times! Can you see the jelly look alike blood clot? Eww! Nasty!

In the seventh (last) cup, Embong spotted some white bubbles coming out and accumulated in the cup. He told us this is the worst toxin that could ever exist in our body. He was glad he has been able to suck it out. The white bubbles can be related to many health complications, especially migraine, high blood pressure, severe headache, and many more. Can you see the dustbin with blood discharge from the cup at the bottom left of the picture?

Next is to suck the dirty blood from other various parts of the body, starting with the back, chest, stomach, and further down to the pair of legs. Same procedure took place here, except that this time razor blade is no longer used on the skin. 

After a minute, this is how it looked like.

Cupping procedure done at the back of the body.

About an hour afterwards, the session completed for the back of the body.  Can you see some circles darker than the others? According to Embong, the darker spots represent problematic areas within the body. Examples are back pain, high cholestrol level, bad fat compositions, etc.

My husband resting for a while before the session continued with his legs. Our maid was so scared to see these blood circles on his body that she refused to come closer. The fact is, though it looks bloody awful, the process is almost painless.

Cupping revealed cholestrol problem on the left chest (near the heart).

And finally, cupping at the neck areas as prevention to avoid stroke and heart attack that could either cause paralysis or death.

I went through the cupping process too, but in a closed session handled by Embong's wife. Nevertheless, the dirty blood that came out of my body is not as much as my husband's. Embong said women discharge their dirty blood on monthly basis through their menstrual period, so it is not surprising even if no blood come out at all during the cupping process. On the contrary, men do not have any alternative to naturally dispose their dirty blood accumulated in the body. That is why the rate of men getting severe illness or dying at young age is higher compared to women. Hmmm....How I feel blessed becoming a woman! You should try it too, one day. It's not a painful process at all, I promise.

Three days after the cupping session, here is my husband's observation and comment:

1. No more serious headache

2. Body feels lighter and energetic

3. He feels happier and more organised in planning

4. Better appetite

5. Clearer sight (eye vision)

6. Calm and peaceful

7. No more mood swing and bad temper

As for me, I am much happier now. No heavy, sleepy head in the morning because there is no more sleepless ordeal at nights. No more fatigue. Also, at this point of time, I have not experienced any migraine yet, and hopefully it will be gone forever. I can concentrate more on my study now.

Alhamdulillah.

Mission accomplished.