The Criterion for the Prohibition of Breastfeeding Kinship and the Relatives of Those Who Were Breastfed Together
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Shaykh Salih, as you observe, questions about breastfeeding are breaking down. Perhaps people are looking for a criterion to adhere to in this matter, to which they can return whenever a case of breastfeeding comes up.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this by saying: “What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by birth.” This is a clear measure: everything that is prohibited by blood relation, such as sisters, daughters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, and the daughters of brothers and sisters, daughters, and the daughters of sons, and the daughters of daughters—everything that is prohibited by blood relation is prohibited by its counterpart in breastfeeding. What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by blood relation. What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by birth. This criterion is applied. Yes. And the legal ruling is known. There is no doubt that issues of breastfeeding are complex. Yes. And similar to one another. But with this, the truth has become clear to the people of knowledge, if Allah wills. May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
Regarding the brothers of those who were breastfed together, whether they are younger or older, does the prohibition extend to them or not?
The Shaykh:
Yes, if a child, yes, within the two years, or a girl, if a child or a girl within the two years, has been breastfed five times, then this breastfed child becomes her son, and the son of the one to whom he is attributed, and the son of her husband. And the relatives of the husband become relatives of the breastfed child, and the relatives of the nursing mother become relatives of the breastfed child. This is the criterion. Indeed, four or five times, as taught, within the two years, then he becomes her son and the son of the one to whom the milk is attributed, whether it is short or long. And the prohibited relatives of the father to whom the milk is attributed, and the prohibited relatives of the nursing mother, are all prohibited relatives of this breastfed child. There is no difference between the one who is earlier and the one who is later, or one who shares in the breastfeeding; there is no difference in that.
Likewise, the wives of the one to whom the milk is attributed, and their children from other wives, and the children of the one to whom the milk is attributed from other wives, become brothers to this breastfed child. This is based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by blood relation.” Yes.
Shaykh Salih, as you observe, questions about breastfeeding are breaking down. Perhaps people are looking for a criterion to adhere to in this matter, to which they can return whenever a case of breastfeeding comes up.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this by saying: “What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by birth.” This is a clear measure: everything that is prohibited by blood relation, such as sisters, daughters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, and the daughters of brothers and sisters, daughters, and the daughters of sons, and the daughters of daughters—everything that is prohibited by blood relation is prohibited by its counterpart in breastfeeding. What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by blood relation. What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by birth. This criterion is applied. Yes. And the legal ruling is known. There is no doubt that issues of breastfeeding are complex. Yes. And similar to one another. But with this, the truth has become clear to the people of knowledge, if Allah wills. May Allah reward you with good and do you well.
The questioner:
Regarding the brothers of those who were breastfed together, whether they are younger or older, does the prohibition extend to them or not?
The Shaykh:
Yes, if a child, yes, within the two years, or a girl, if a child or a girl within the two years, has been breastfed five times, then this breastfed child becomes her son, and the son of the one to whom he is attributed, and the son of her husband. And the relatives of the husband become relatives of the breastfed child, and the relatives of the nursing mother become relatives of the breastfed child. This is the criterion. Indeed, four or five times, as taught, within the two years, then he becomes her son and the son of the one to whom the milk is attributed, whether it is short or long. And the prohibited relatives of the father to whom the milk is attributed, and the prohibited relatives of the nursing mother, are all prohibited relatives of this breastfed child. There is no difference between the one who is earlier and the one who is later, or one who shares in the breastfeeding; there is no difference in that.
Likewise, the wives of the one to whom the milk is attributed, and their children from other wives, and the children of the one to whom the milk is attributed from other wives, become brothers to this breastfed child. This is based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): “What is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by blood relation.” Yes.
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/063 — archive.org (2:30)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.