Hajjam

‘’’Hijama’’’ is alternately pronounced and indicated as ‘’’Hajaam’’’ or ‘’’Hajam’’’. The word Hijama is extracted from the Arabic word Al ‘’Hajm’’, means ‘’sucking’’. The individual who engages in this occupation was called a ‘’Hijama’’ in Arab countries. It is now called cupping in English. Especially in the Arab world, treatment was done by three things: drinking honey, using the knife of the copper, and cauterization by fire. Hijama is an ancient practice used by many nations including Arabs, Babylonians, Chinese, Pharaohs, Ancient Egyptians, Asians, Greece, and throughout Europe. It was commonly accepted as traditional cure around the world, and is still used by modern practitioners. Originally Hijama in the Muslim community came directly from Arab countries and then spread throughout the world.[1].

Hijama
Regions with significant populations
India and Pakistan
Languages
• Urdu • Hindi • Punjabi
Religion
• Islam 100%
Related ethnic groups
• Saifi • Shaikh

Communities of Arab campaigned in Persia, Egypt to propagate the message of Islam during the Caliphate power of some companions of Prophet Muhammad. Then the Persians ran to conquer India. In this way, Hijama came from Arab to Persia, and then to India. In India, they practiced their occupation and included multi practices with Hijama like pulling of teeth, hairdressing, sheep shearing, treating of abscesses, etc.Because of different multi practices besides Hijama, they were named Hijama as they were already called in their original countries. They are now an ethnic group found in North India and Pakistan. In Pakistan, they are established in Sindh and Punjab provinces. They are deemed as underdeveloped communities in India, but in North India.[2] They are also found in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. They are also known as the Khalifa in Uttar Pradesh as the Salmani.

Types of Hijama

There are broadly two types of Hijamah: hijamat-bil-shurt and hijamat-bilashurt

  • Wet cupping (Hijamat-bil-shurt): Cupping with scarification from the letting of blood, i.e., a glass cup is applied to the skin and a partial vacuum is created inside the cup. After a few minutes, a few superficial incisions are made to the skin, and bloodletting is induced through replacement of the cup with a vacuum. Hijamat-bil-shurt works on the principle of tanqiya-e-mavad, i.e. evacuation of morbid matters from the affected area.
  • Dry cupping (Hijamat-bila-shurt): Cupping without bloodletting, i.e., cups are placed without making incisions or pricks on the skin of the affected area. The vacuum is created either by suction or by using fire. Hijamat-bila-shurt works on the principle of imala-e-mavaad, which is the diversion of morbid tumors from one site to another (Ibn Sina, 1995; Baghdadi, 2005; Kabiruddin, 1955).

History

Hijama is an ancient practice used by all nations including Arabs, Persia, Babylons, Chinese, Pharaohs, Egyptians, Asians, Greece and throughout Europe where it was widely used as traditional medicine around the world and is still used by modern practitioners around the world.

The practice of Hijama in Islam was made popular by Muhammad. As per the sunnah, it is known that he has said,

"Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire (cauterizing)." But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire."[3]

Historic Benefits of Hijama

Muhammad had used cupping for different medical needs. It was reported that he once used cupping for migraines. As narrated by Ibn `Abbas, Muhammad was cupped on his head for an ailment he was suffering from while he was in a state of Ihram. at a water place called Lahl Jamal. Ibn `Abbas further said: Allah s Apostle was cupped on his head for unilateral headache while he was in a state of Ihram.[4]

The best and most beneficial days to have hijama performed, also commonly known as the 'Sunnah Days' are the 17th, 19th or 21st of the Islamic (Lunar) month which fall on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Taking into consideration that in Islam the night enters before the day.[5]

Jabir narrated that Muhammad was treated with cupping on his hip because of a sprain or bruise. (Sunan Abu Dawud 3863)[6]

Present circumstances

Barber in India

The Hijama have largely been dependent on their labor and services, although some have acquired agricultural land and engaged in settled agriculture, besides being barbers occupationally. Many have also taken to education or started there petty businessmen. The community considers itself as Shaikh. This transformation in their social status has also seen in the dropping of the word Hijama, so they now self-identify as Salmani. They are mainly found in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu, and Kashmir. The Hijama community consists of a number of clans, known as biradaris. Traditionally, marriages occur within the biradris. Their main biradaris are Behlim and Deswal Khalifa of Muzaffarnagar District, Turkiya of Rohilkhand, the Shaikh Salmani, Turkiya, and Pirzada in Awadh.[7] West Bengal Purulia district asta/osta baradari

Each of their settlement contains a community that has a community council, which acts as an instrument of social control. This community council is responsible for imposing fines for the offense of disrespecting traditional norms and for resolving minor disputes within the community. The community is known as Sunni Hanafi Muslims, and are considered fairly orthodox. They are also an endogamous community, preferring to marry among themselves. Cross - cousin marriages are preferred.[8]

In Bihar, the Hijama are generally known as Khalifas, and they speak Maithili, a dialect of Hindi. Most of the educated Hijamas also speak Urdu language. They are found throughout Bihar, and are still engaged in their occupation. However, many Khalifa in Jharkhand are now farmers. The community has a biradari panchayat, which deals with intracommunity disputes as well as a representative to the state. Many have also emigrated to Mumbai and Kolkata, where they are employed as day laborers.[9]

In Pakistan

In Pakistan, the Hijamas are found predominantly in the Punjab province. The Muslim Hijama has three sub-divisions, the Bahalim Chauhan, and Kharal. The first claims descent from Yemeni Arab, the other two were originally Muslim Rajputs. They are also other sub-groups, such as the Banbheru, Ghaghrel and Turkman. In addition, many Hijama claim to have been of Bhatti, Khokhar, Awan origin, who due to circumstances have taken up the occupation of being barbers. Many Hijamas from Uttar Pradesh in India migrated to Pakistan after independence in 1947 and mainly settled in Karachi.

Kisbatnama

They maintain a manual of their art, known as the Kisbatnama. In this, it is said that God first ordered Archangel Gabriel to shave Adam. Thus Adam learnt the art of shaving and handed down the art to Suleman Paras, or the Prophet Soloman.

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See also

References
  1. Qureshi, Naseem Akhtar; Ali, Gazzaffi Ibrahim; Abushanab, Tamer Shaban; El-Olemy, Ahmed Tawfik; Alqaed, Meshari Saleh; El-Subai, Ibrahim S.; Al-Bedah, Abdullah M.N. (May 2017). "History of cupping ( Hijama ): a narrative review of literature". Journal of Integrative Medicine. 15 (3): 172–181. doi:10.1016/s2095-4964(17)60339-x. ISSN 2095-4964.
  2. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1050
  3. "Book of Medicine - Sahih al-Bukhari - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. "Book of Medicine - Sahih al-Bukhari - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  5. "Simply Hijama - Hijama in Islam". www.simplyhijama.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. "Simply Hijama - Hijama in Islam". simplyhijama.wildapricot.org. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  7. People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1052
  8. People of India Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1051
  9. People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 381 to 382 Seagull Books
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