What Is Meant by the Prophet’s Statement: “The Earnings of the Cupper Are Khabith”? Is It Makruh or Haram?
Question
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The earnings of the cupper are khabith.”
(Reported by Muslim, 1568)
What does the word khabith mean here? Does it indicate prohibition, or is it merely dislike?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shar‘i Context
This hadith concerns the payment taken by the cupper (one who performs hijamah). There are other authentic narrations clearly showing that the Prophet ﷺ paid the cupper for his service. Ibn Abbas reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ had hijamah done and gave the cupper his wage.”
(Reported by al Bukhari and Muslim)
This establishes that the earnings of the cupper cannot be haram, because the Prophet ﷺ would not give payment for something unlawful nor approve of it.
2. The Meaning of “Khabith”
In Islamic legal usage, the term khabith does not always mean haram. It can also mean:
- Something low or inferior in status
- Something disliked by sound taste
- Something not encouraged
Accordingly, khabith here indicates dislike, not prohibition. It refers to something that is not ideal or refined, rather than something forbidden.
Imam al Nawawi explained that this wording was used to discourage, not to declare the income unlawful.
3. Reconciling the Texts
Since the Prophet ﷺ both:
- Described the earnings as khabith, and
- Personally paid the cupper for his work,
the only sound reconciliation is that the description refers to makruh tanzihi (a mild, non-sinful dislike), not to haram.
4. Scholarly Consensus
The majority of scholars across the four madhahib hold that:
- The earnings of hijamah are halal,
- But makruh tanzihi,
- And the dislike is lifted in cases of need or when it is someone’s profession and a benefit to people.
5. The Relevant Usul Principle
إذا تعارض نهي مع فعل النبي ﷺ، صُرِف النهي إلى الكراهة
If a text of prohibition or condemnation appears to conflict with an action of the Prophet ﷺ, the prohibition is interpreted as dislike.
This is because the Prophet’s ﷺ action is a decisive indicator that prevents the wording from being understood as haram. His act of paying the cupper is a clear proof that the income itself is lawful, and that the description “khabith” is not meant as prohibition.
Final Ruling
The earnings of the cupper are not haram. The word khabith in this hadith means disliked or low in status, not forbidden. The correct ruling is makruh tanzihi, and there is no sin in earning this income, especially in cases of need.
And Allah knows best.