Question
There is a Hadith recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud, wherein Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that “Tuesday is a day of blood.”
What is the status of this narration?
Answer
The full narration is as follows:
Kabshah/Kayyisah bintu Abi Bakrah said that her father would prevent his family from cupping on Tuesday. He would say, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Tuesday is a day of blood [i.e., a day there is excess blood in the body], in it is an hour where the blood will not stop.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 3858, Sharh Ibn Raslan, Hadith: 3862)
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has declared the chain weak (اسناده ليس بالقوي). He also says that the prohibition from cupping on Tuesday is from the side of the Sahabi (Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah radiyallahu ‘anhu) and not Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). i.e., Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not explicitly prohibit cupping on a Tuesday in this Hadith, rather the Sahabi (radiyallahu ‘anhu) prohibited his family.
(As Sunanul Kubra, vol. 9, pg. 340)
Notes:
1) Some narrations encourage cupping on Monday and Tuesday. This has been recorded through three weak chains. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3487-3488. Refer: Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5694). Imam Daraqutni (rahimahullah) has also recorded a statement of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) where he encouraged cupping on a Tuesday. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared this chain authentic (jayyid).
2) Although the Hadith in question is weak, some Fuqaha may have deemed cupping on Tuesday undesirable as a precautionary measure. Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah) would -as a precaution- encourage abiding by Hadiths like these, even though they may be weak. (Refer: Zadul Ma’ad, vol. 4, pg. 55 and Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5694. Also see: Hukmul ‘Amal Bil-Hadithid Da’if, pg. 38)
3) The best dates for cupping have been authentically reported in other sources. See here.
Kindly consult a reliable Mufti/Darul Ifta for further clarification and a Juristic (fiqhi) ruling.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar