Scholars differed concerning the earnings of a cupper whether it is makruh (undesirable) or permissible without being makruh? The reason why they differed is that they differed in their understanding of the ahadith that have been narrated concerning this issue.
Among the ahadith which describe the earnings of a cupper as makruh are the following:
1 – The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The earnings of a cupper are khabith (evil).” (Narrated by Muslim)
2 – The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The worst of earnings are the wages of a prostitute, the price of a dog and the fee of a cupper.” (Narrated by Muslim).
3 – It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the earnings of a cupper. (Narrated by Ahmad, al-Nasaa’I and Ibn Majah)
However, there are other hadith that indicate the permissibility of such earnings:
1 – Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: Abu Taybah treated the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with cupping and he ordered that he be given a saa’ of dates.
2 – Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was treated with cupping and he gave something to the one who treated him. If this had been haram he would not have given him anything.
The majority of scholars are of the view that when all of these ahadith are taken together, the aforementioned prohibition should be understood as meaning that it is just makruh.
Based on the above, cupping is a desirable and even recommendable kind of medication as it was practiced by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for taking fees in return for cupping, there is nothing wrong with that according to the majority of the scholars. Thus, paying for it is also permissible.