on the circumstances in which it is likely to be present. Thus, just as a sleeping person who passes wind without knowing it is required to perform ablution, some blood may enter the cupper’s stomach with his saliva without his knowing it. Blood is among the most potent substances that invalidate the fast. Consuming it is forbidden in itself because it causes desire to become excessive and leads away from moderation. The fasting person is commanded to cut off the source of this, whereas blood increases the blood in the body and thus belongs to the prohibited category.

This is why the cupper’s fast is invalidated, just as a sleeping person’s ablution is invalidated even if he is not certain that he has passed wind: he may do so without knowing it. Likewise, blood may enter the cupper’s throat without his knowing it. As for someone who merely makes the incisions, he is not a cupper, and this rationale does not apply to him; hence his fast is not invalidated. Likewise, if we suppose that a cupper does not suck on the cupping vessel, but instead sucks on something else or draws the blood by another method, his fast would not be invalidated. The Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—concerned the familiar, customary kind of cupper.

When the wording is general, even if he intended a particular individual, all others of the same kind share the ruling. This accords with the established practice of the revealed law: whatever ruling applies to one member of the Muslim community applies to them all. Here, this applies all the more strongly. His words therefore cannot establish a ruling for something that both their wording and their meaning clearly exclude, especially when such an extension is at odds with revealed law and reason.

Allah knows best. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May Allah bestow blessings and abundant peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.