Praise
be to Allah
The fuqaha’
differed as to whether cupping breaks the fast of the fasting person or not.
There are two well-known views:
i.
The first view
is that it does break the fast of the fasting person. This is the view of
the Hanbalis and a number of the early generations (salaf). They quoted as
evidence the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him), “The cupper and the one for whom cupping is done both break their
fast.” Narrated by Abu Daawood (2367) and Ibn Maajah (1679); classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Daawood (2047).
This view was
regarded as correct by a number of scholars, and fatwas to this effect were
issued by the Standing Committee and by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah
have mercy on him), who also issued fatwas to this effect on our website.
ii.
The second view
is that it does not break the fast of the fasting person. This is the view
of the majority of fuqaha’.
Secondly:
If you follow
the view that cupping breaks the fast, then you have no right to treat a
fasting woman with cupping, even if she follows the view of scholars who say
that cupping does not break the fast, because you would be doing something
that breaks the fast according to your belief, and breaking the fast of a
fasting person – with no valid excuse – is not permissible. Therefore this
is regarded as being a direct cause of doing something that is forbidden.
The fuqaha’ have
mentioned a similar case, which has to do with someone who thinks that a
particular action is permissible helping someone to do it who believes that
it is forbidden, or vice versa.
Ar-Ramli said in
Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj (10/217): If one who believes that it [playing
chess] is permissible plays with someone who also believes that it is
permissible, [then that is permissible], otherwise it is forbidden, as was
regarded as being more likely to be correct by as-Subki, al-Adhra‘i,
az-Zarkashi and others. And the reason for that is clear, because he is
helping him to commit sin, as we believe that it is binding upon the other
person to adhere to the view of his madhhab,
And because
ash-Shafaa‘i regarded it as essential to tell him not to do that, because of
what we mentioned above, that anyone who does something that he believes to
be unlawful must be rebuked for his action, even if that rebuke is delivered
by someone who believes the action to be permissible. End quote.
And he said in
his commentary on Asna’l-Mataalib (3/343): If he thinks it is
prohibited or he plays with someone who thinks it is prohibited, in that
case he is helping him to transgress what he believes to be a prohibition,
and this is heedlessness.
As-Subki said: A
similar case is if two men get involved in a business transaction at the
time of the adhaan [for Jumu‘ah], and attending Jumu‘ah is obligatory for
one of them, but not for the other one [e.g. because he is a traveller]. The
correct view is that it is forbidden for both of them (to carry on with the
transaction), and al-Adhra‘i, az-Zarkashi and others agreed with this view.
But the issue we
are discussing here is more subtle, because engaging in a business
transaction with one for whom Jumu‘ah is obligatory is something that is
well known to us and to him, but the prohibition on playing chess is
something that is controversial. Rather what is clear is that what is
forbidden is playing chess if one believes it to be forbidden. End quote.
But if cupping
is done to treat sickness that is present, or that is expected to occur if
cupping is delayed, and it is not possible to delay it until after iftaar,
then this is an excuse which allows breaking the fast, and there is no blame
on you for doing cupping in this case, because it is helping someone in a
case where breaking the fast is permissible.
But if it is
possible to delay it until after iftaar, or it is not to treat sickness that
is present or expected to occur if cupping is delayed, and it is rather the
regular habit of the person who is being treated with cupping, then in this
case it is not permissible for the cupper, if he believes that cupping
breaks the fast, to do cupping for someone else.
And Allah knows
best.