The Ruling on Breastfeeding and Doubts Regarding Its Establishment

Question:
Umm 'Abd al-'Aziz from Barq says: Honorable Shaykh, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. I breastfed my sister's daughter along with my eldest son, and she became a sister to my sons through breastfeeding. After that, I breastfed my neighbor's son along with my youngest son until he was full, but I do not remember the number of breastfeedings. That was thirty years ago, and I do not know what to do, because the neighbor's son always asks me, "Are you the maternal uncle of your sons?" I am afraid to say yes to him, for I would thereby incur sin, and I am not certain of the number of breastfeedings. So what does the Shaykh advise?

Answer:
Yes. If breastfeeding is established by the number of five breastfeedings, meaning five full suckles, even if in one sitting, and it occurred within the first two years, then the prohibition of marriage is established. The breastfed child becomes a son to the wet nurse and a brother to her sons and daughters, and a brother to the sons and daughters of her husband, even if from another woman. The prohibition extends to the children of the wet nurse, to the children of the man who has her milk (her husband), and to his children from other women, and all of them are siblings to him. Yes, Shaykh. If some women say, "I think," or "I believe," or "It appears to me that I breastfed," do these expressions count? These indicate a preponderance of suspicion and establish the doubt. It is necessary to take them into account and exercise caution.