Is it true that in a Hadith it says Hijaamah (blood cupping) breaks the fast?

Yes, it is true that in a Hadith it says that Hijaamah (blood cupping) breaks the fast? The Hadith is authentic. However, the Hadith is not understood literally, rather it is interpreted due to other evidence.

عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: أَفْطَرَ الْحَاجِمُ وَالْمَحْجُومُ

(Sayidina) Thowbaan (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘The person performing cupping and the person upon whom it is performed have both nullified their fasts.’ (Sunan Abi Dawood, 2367).

This Hadith has also been narrated in Tirmidhi (774), Ibn Maja (1679, 1680, 1681), Musnad Ahmad and many other Hadith collections. Imam al-Tirmidhi narrated it from Sayidina Rafi bin Khadeej (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) and commented on the authenticity saying:

«وَحَدِيثُ رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ»

The Hadith of (Sayidina) Rafi bin Khadeej (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) is a Hasan Sahih Hadith. (Sunan Tirmidhi, 774).

Imam al-Nawawi confirmed that the Hadith is Sahih and commented more specifically upon the narration in Abi Dawood:

بِحَدِيثِ ثَوْبَانَ قَالَ ” سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم يقول أَفْطَرَ الْحَاجِمُ وَالْمَحْجُومُ ” رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ بِأَسَانِيدَ صَحِيحَةٍ وَإِسْنَادُ أَبِي دَاوُد عَلَى شَرْطِ مُسْلِمٍ. (المجموع شرح المهذب)

The Hadith of Thowbaan (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) in which he narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘The person performing cupping and the person upon whom it is performed have both nullified their fasts.’ It was narrated by Abu Dawood, Nasai and Ibn Maja with Sahih chains. The Isnad of Abu Dawood is upon the criteria of Muslim. (Imam al-Nawawi, al-Majmoo Sharh al-Muhadhab).

Therefore, there is no doubt regarding the authenticity of the Hadith. Rather the discussion is regarding the meaning. Should it be understood literally or not. See the link below for a discussion on this issue.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (12.04.2022)

See also:
Does taking a blood test break the fast

See also video: