Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Cupping in Ramadan is a debated issue among scholars. Some believe it invalidates the fast, citing a hadith stating that both the one cupping and the one receiving it break their fasts. However, other scholars argue that the Prophet himself underwent cupping while fasting, making it permissible. The majority view is that cupping does not break the fast, but it is recommended to postpone it until after iftar if it causes weakness.
Answering your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states,
Islamic Perspective on Traditional Healing Practices
Ibn โAbbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: โHealing is to be found in three things: drinking honey, the knife of the cupper, and cauterization of fire.โ (Al-Bukhari)
According to a hadith narrated by Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: โIf there is any good in your medical treatments, it is in the knife of the cupper, drinking honey, or cauterization with fire, as appropriate to the cause of the illness, but I would not like to be cauterized.โ (Al-Bukhari)
Can You Do Cupping in Ramadan While Fasting?
The issue of cupping while fasting is contentious among scholars. One group considers it as one of the things that break the fast, while others do not think so.
The differences of opinion are due to the different reports attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) on this issue. He has been reported saying, โBoth the one who practices blood- cupping and the one receiving it break their fasts.โ On the other hand, Ibn `Abbas says that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did undergo blood-cupping while fasting.
What Is the Majority View on Cupping?
The majority of scholars who allow the practice do so by relying on the reported practice of the Prophet and his Companions, as we know many used to undergo it while fasting.
This group considers the previous report as being abrogated.
Should You Postpone Cupping Until After Iftar?
While endorsing the majority view on this, some scholars have rightly said it would be better if one has a choice to postpone cupping until after iftar โ especially if it leaves a person weak and unable to continue the fast. The same rule applies to donating blood while fasting.
Allah Almighty knows best.