Doubt Regarding Breastfeeding
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Fatwa No. ( 14532 )
Q: I live with my maternal aunt’s sons as if they were my brothers through breastfeeding. I live with them as a sister lives with her brothers. However, now my aunt is saying that after all these years, she is not certain of the number of breastfeedings
that I received from her. She says that she breastfed me initially by mistake, thinking I was her daughter who was my age, but she breastfed me again intentionally, intending to breastfeed me. This is all she has said. Please give us the ruling in Islam regarding this. May Allah reward you and make you a permanent role model for the Muslims. Am I her daughter and a sister to her sons, or not? Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
A: The breastfeeding that establishes a prohibition is five breastfeedings or more within the first two years. Therefore, if your breastfeeding by your maternal aunt was of that nature, whether it was intentional or accidental, you are her daughter through breastfeeding and a sister to all of her children. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:23] up to His saying: [An-Nisa 4:23], and He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:233]. It is also established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 3105. It is also established in the hadith of A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: "What was revealed in the Qur'an was: 'Ten known breastfeedings establish a prohibition,' but this was abrogated by: 'Five known breastfeedings.' The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while the matter remained as such." Know that a breastfeeding (suckling) is: when a child holds
The child holds the breast and then sucks milk from it. If he lets go and returns and sucks milk, that is a second breastfeed, and so on. If the breastfeeding is less than five, there is no prohibition, and it is not permissible for you to uncover yourself to your maternal aunt’s sons. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I live with my maternal aunt’s sons as if they were my brothers through breastfeeding. I live with them as a sister lives with her brothers. However, now my aunt is saying that after all these years, she is not certain of the number of breastfeedings
that I received from her. She says that she breastfed me initially by mistake, thinking I was her daughter who was my age, but she breastfed me again intentionally, intending to breastfeed me. This is all she has said. Please give us the ruling in Islam regarding this. May Allah reward you and make you a permanent role model for the Muslims. Am I her daughter and a sister to her sons, or not? Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
A: The breastfeeding that establishes a prohibition is five breastfeedings or more within the first two years. Therefore, if your breastfeeding by your maternal aunt was of that nature, whether it was intentional or accidental, you are her daughter through breastfeeding and a sister to all of her children. Allah the Exalted said:
Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْyour sisters through nursing
وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِMothers may breastfeed their children two complete years
وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِWhat is rendered illegal because of blood relations, is also rendered illegal because of the corresponding foster-relations.
الرضاعة تحرم ما تحرم الولادةThe child holds the breast and then sucks milk from it. If he lets go and returns and sucks milk, that is a second breastfeed, and so on. If the breastfeeding is less than five, there is no prohibition, and it is not permissible for you to uncover yourself to your maternal aunt’s sons. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.