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| rels            = [[Islam]]
| rels            = [[Islam]]
| related          = [[Saifi]], [[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]]
| related          = [[Saifi]], [[Shaikhs in South Asia|Shaikh]]
| native_name      =  
| native_name      = Salmani and Turkia
| native_name_lang =  
| native_name_lang =  
}}
}}


The '''Hijama''', also known as''''' cupping''''' are an ethnic group in India known for practicing [[cupping therapy]]. The word Hijama has been derived from the [[Arabic]] word {{lang|ar|Al Hajm}}, means "sucking", referring to this therapy. A practitioner was called a ''Hijama'' in [[Arabs|Arab countries]], and the name was used in India as well.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Qureshi|first1=Naseem Akhtar|last2=Ali|first2=Gazzaffi Ibrahim|last3=Abushanab|first3=Tamer Shaban|last4=El-Olemy|first4=Ahmed Tawfik|last5=Alqaed|first5=Meshari Saleh|last6=El-Subai|first6=Ibrahim S.|last7=Al-Bedah|first7=Abdullah M.N.|date=May 2017|title=History of cupping ( Hijama ): a narrative review of literature|journal=Journal of Integrative Medicine|volume=15|issue=3|pages=172–181|doi=10.1016/s2095-4964(17)60339-x|pmid=28494847|issn=2095-4964}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=August 2021}}
'''Hajjam''' are an ethnic group in the [[Indian subcontinent]]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Nagendra Kr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMTXAAAAMAAJ&q=Hajjam+Muslim |title=Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities |last2=Khan |first2=Abdul Mabud |date=2001 |publisher=Global Vision |isbn=978-81-87746-05-8 |pages=504–8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kumar Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UTlxqSca3rEC&q=hajjam+muslim |title=People of India: Karnataka |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-85938-98-1 |pages=574–7 |language=en}}</ref> known for practicing [[cupping therapy]], also known as''''' Hijama'''''. The word Hijama has been derived from the [[Arabic]] word {{lang|ar|Al Hajm}}, means "sucking", referring to this therapy. A practitioner was called a ''Hijama'' in [[Arabs|Arab countries]], and the name was used in India as well.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Qureshi |first1=Naseem Akhtar |last2=Ali |first2=Gazzaffi Ibrahim |last3=Abushanab |first3=Tamer Shaban |last4=El-Olemy |first4=Ahmed Tawfik |last5=Alqaed |first5=Meshari Saleh |last6=El-Subai |first6=Ibrahim S. |last7=Al-Bedah |first7=Abdullah M.N. |date=May 2017 |title=History of cupping ( Hijama ): a narrative review of literature |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S209549641760339X |journal=Journal of Integrative Medicine |language=en |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=172–181 |doi=10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60339-X |pmid=28494847 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>{{Verify source|date=August 2021}}  


Communities of Arab campaigned in [[Iran|Persia]], [[Egypt]] to propagate the message of Islam during the [[Caliphate]] power of some companions of [[Muhammad]]. Then the [[Persians]] ran to conquer [[India]]. In this way, Hijama came from Arab to [[Iran|Persia]], and then to India. In India, they practiced their occupation and included multi practices with Hijama like pulling of teeth, [[Hairdresser|hairdressing]], sheep [[Sheep shearing|shearing]], treating of [[Abscess|abscesses]], etc. Because of different multi practices besides [[Cupping therapy|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 (Pakistan)|Punjab]] provinces. They are deemed underdeveloped communities in India, but in [[North India]].<ref name="ReferenceA">People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1050</ref> They are also found in the provinces of [[Sindh]] and [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] in Pakistan. They are also known as the [[Khalifa]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]] as the Salmani. Satat of  [[West Bengal]] known as khalifa a
They are on the [[Other Backward Class|OBC]] list of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Backward Classes {{!}} Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes, Government of Haryana |url=http://haryanascbc.gov.in/reservation-in-haryana/list-of-backward-classes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424045832/http://haryanascbc.gov.in/reservation-in-haryana/list-of-backward-classes |archive-date=2025-04-24 |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=haryanascbc.gov.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Commission for Backward Classes: Himachal Pradesh |url=http://ncbc.nic.in/Pdf/HimachalPradesh.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227014116/https://www.ncbc.nic.in/Pdf/himachalpradesh.pdf |archive-date=27 Feb 2012 |access-date=2 February 2015}}</ref>


==Types of Hijama==
==The Hajjam in Nepal==
The [[Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal)|Central Bureau of Statistics]] of Nepal classifies the Hajjam (called Hajam in the Nepal census) as a subgroup within the broader social group of [[Madheshi people|Madheshi]] Other Caste.<ref>[https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II]</ref> At the time of the [[2011 Nepal census]], 117,758 people (0.4% of the population of Nepal) were Hajjam. The frequency of Hajjam by province was as follows:
* [[Madhesh Province]] (1.4%)
* [[Lumbini Province]] (0.5%)
* [[Koshi Province]] (0.3%)
* [[Bagmati Province]] (0.1%)
* [[Gandaki Province]] (0.0%)
* [[Karnali Province]] (0.0%)
* [[Sudurpashchim Province]] (0.0%)


There are broadly two types of Hijamah: [[Wet cupping|hijamat-bil-shurt]] and hijamat-bilashurt
The frequency of Hajjam was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |title=2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314170005/https://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/upLoads/2018/12/Volume05Part02.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
* [[Saptari District|Saptari]] (1.5%)
* 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.
* [[Dhanusha District|Dhanusha]] (1.4%)
* 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).
* [[Parsa District|Parsa]] (1.4%)
 
* [[Rautahat District|Rautahat]] (1.4%)
==History==
* [[Siraha District|Siraha]] (1.4%)
 
* [[Mahottari District|Mahottari]] (1.3%)
Hijama is an ancient practice used by all nations including [[Arab|Arabs]], [[Iran|Persia]], [[Babylonia|Babylons]], [[China|Chinese]], [[Pharaoh|Pharaohs]], [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]], [[Asia|Asians]], [[Greece]] and throughout [[Europe]] where it was widely used as [[Tradition|traditional]] medicine around the world and is still used by modern practitioners around the world.
* [[Sarlahi District|Sarlahi]] (1.3%)
 
* [[Bara District|Bara]] (1.2%)
The practice of Hijama in Islam was made popular by Muhammad. As per the sunnah, it is known that he has said,
* [[Kapilvastu District|Kapilvastu]] (1.1%)
 
* [[Banke District|Banke]] (0.9%)
"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."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Book of Medicine - Sahih al-Bukhari - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)|url=https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76|website=sunnah.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
* [[Parasi District|Parasi]] (0.9%)
 
* [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]] (0.8%)
== Historic Benefits of Hijama ==
* [[Morang District|Morang]] (0.6%)
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Book of Medicine - Sahih al-Bukhari - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)|url=https://sunnah.com/bukhari/76|website=sunnah.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
* [[Sunsari District|Sunsari]] (0.5%)
 
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simply Hijama - Hijama in Islam|url=http://www.simplyhijama.com/Hijama-in-Islam|website=www.simplyhijama.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
 
Jabir narrated that Muhammad was treated with cupping on his hip because of a sprain or bruise. (Sunan Abu Dawud 3863)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simply Hijama - Hijama in Islam|url=https://simplyhijama.wildapricot.org/Hijama-in-Islam|website=simplyhijama.wildapricot.org|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>
 
==Present circumstances==
 
=== Salmani 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 [[Shaikhs in South Asia|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]].<ref>People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1052</ref> 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]] [[Muslim]]s, and are considered fairly orthodox. They are also an endogamous community, preferring to marry among themselves. Cross - cousin marriages are preferred.<ref>People of India Volume XLII Part Two by K S Singh page 1051</ref>
 
In [[Bihar]], the Hajjam are generally known as Khalifas, and they speak [[Maithili language|Maithili]], a dialect of [[Hindi]]. Most of the educated Hajjam 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.<ref>People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part One edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 381 to 382 Seagull Books</ref>
 
===In Pakistan===
In [[Pakistan]], the Hajjam are found predominantly in the [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province. The Muslim Hajjam has three sub-divisions, the [[Behlim|Bahalim]] [[Chauhan]], and [[Kharal]]. The first claims descent from [[Yemen]]i [[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 clan|Bhatti]], [[Khokhar]], [[Awan (tribe)|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 learned the art of shaving and handed down the art to [[Solomon]].{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
 
==Notable People==
* [[Jawed Habib]], Indian Politician,Hairstylist and Businessman
*[[Oualid El Hajjam|Oualud El Hajjam]], Moroccan Footballer
*[[Aalim Hakeem]], Bollywood Hairstylist
*[[Nazir-ali|Nazir Ali]], British Hairstylist


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Nepal]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Bihar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Uttar Pradesh]]

Latest revision as of 06:06, 7 February 2026


Hijama
Salmani and Turkia
Regions with significant populations
India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Languages
Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Saifi, Shaikh

Hajjam are an ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent[1][2] known for practicing cupping therapy, also known as Hijama. The word Hijama has been derived from the Arabic word Al Hajm, means "sucking", referring to this therapy. A practitioner was called a Hijama in Arab countries, and the name was used in India as well.[3][verification needed]

They are on the OBC list of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.[4][5]

The Hajjam in Nepal[edit | edit source]

The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Hajjam (called Hajam in the Nepal census) as a subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Other Caste.[6] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 117,758 people (0.4% of the population of Nepal) were Hajjam. The frequency of Hajjam by province was as follows:

The frequency of Hajjam was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:[7]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Singh, Nagendra Kr; Khan, Abdul Mabud (2001). Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities. Global Vision. pp. 504–8. ISBN 978-81-87746-05-8.
  2. ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Karnataka. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 574–7. ISBN 978-81-85938-98-1.
  3. ↑ 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. PMID 28494847.
  4. ↑ "List of Backward Classes | Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes, Government of Haryana". haryanascbc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "National Commission for Backward Classes: Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  7. ↑ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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