The honorable Shaykh: The scholars have differed regarding the number and duration of breastfeeding that makes what is forbidden by blood relation also forbidden. What is the correct opinion?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. He says:The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, the scholars have differed regarding the number and duration of breastfeeding that makes what is forbidden by blood relation also forbidden. What is the correct opinion? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion in my view is that it is five breastfeedings. The forbidden number is five breastfeedings, each breastfeeding being separate from the other. For example, suppose this child nursed at six in the morning, then at eight, then at ten, then at twelve, and then at two in the afternoon. How many is that? Five breastfeedings. So it is established that he is the son of the woman he nursed from through breastfeeding. Is that clear? This is the stronger opinion in my view. Now it must be said: Who is forbidden through breastfeeding? Breastfeeding forbids what birth forbids. It forbids what birth forbids. So what does birth forbid? There are seven. Who can read them to me from the Book of Allah? Please.
The student :[An-Nisa 4:23].
The Shaykh : No, no. Your mothers through breastfeeding are not from blood relation.[An-Nisa 4:23] Seven, and their like through breastfeeding. Is the mother forbidden through breastfeeding? Answer. The daughter through breastfeeding, the sister, the paternal aunt, the maternal aunt, the sister’s daughter, the brother’s daughter. Seven and seven. Sunan Ibn Majah 1937Sahih (Darussalam) Thus the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. So seven from blood relation and seven from breastfeeding.
Based on this, if a child nurses from a woman, the child becomes her son, and becomes the brother of her children, and the brother of her husband’s children from another woman, and the brother of her children from another husband. How many branches is that? Three branches. This child who nursed from the woman becomes the brother of her children from her husband, the brother of her children from another husband, and the brother of her husband’s children from another woman. Is that right or not? Now, suppose her husband has a daughter, and this nursing child has a brother. If his brother wants to marry the daughter of the man whose wife nursed him, is it permissible or not?
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : How is it permissible, my brothers? Did you understand the question well? A child nursed from a woman and he has a brother. Is it permissible for his brother to marry the daughter of the woman who nursed his brother? Is it permissible?
His brother’s sister is his brother’s sister, my brothers.
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : Reflect, may Allah bless you. Do not answer on impulse. These are serious issues. The question again: A child nursed from a woman, and she had a daughter. Is it permissible for his brother to marry this daughter?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Okay, it is permissible. Yes, it is permissible, because we apply this rule. Is this daughter the mother of the nursing child’s brother?
We start from the beginning.
Is she his mother? Okay.
Is she his daughter?
Is she his sister?
Is she his paternal aunt?
Is she his maternal aunt?
Is she his brother’s daughter?
Is she his sister’s daughter?
No. So she is permissible for him. Therefore, I will give you a rule for this issue: Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and his descendants. Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and his descendants. As for his fathers, mothers, brothers, and uncles, breastfeeding has no effect on them. Did you understand well? Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and... and his descendants. As for his brothers, fathers, and mothers, there is no connection.
The Shaykh : The stronger opinion in my view is that it is five breastfeedings. The forbidden number is five breastfeedings, each breastfeeding being separate from the other. For example, suppose this child nursed at six in the morning, then at eight, then at ten, then at twelve, and then at two in the afternoon. How many is that? Five breastfeedings. So it is established that he is the son of the woman he nursed from through breastfeeding. Is that clear? This is the stronger opinion in my view. Now it must be said: Who is forbidden through breastfeeding? Breastfeeding forbids what birth forbids. It forbids what birth forbids. So what does birth forbid? There are seven. Who can read them to me from the Book of Allah? Please.
The student :
Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ وَعَمَّاتُكُمْ وَخَالَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ الْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ الْأُخْتِ وأمهاتكمThe Shaykh : No, no. Your mothers through breastfeeding are not from blood relation.
Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ وَعَمَّاتُكُمْ وَخَالَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ الْأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ الْأُخْتِBreast-feeding makes unlawful (for marriages) the same things that blood tie make unlawful.
يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسبBased on this, if a child nurses from a woman, the child becomes her son, and becomes the brother of her children, and the brother of her husband’s children from another woman, and the brother of her children from another husband. How many branches is that? Three branches. This child who nursed from the woman becomes the brother of her children from her husband, the brother of her children from another husband, and the brother of her husband’s children from another woman. Is that right or not? Now, suppose her husband has a daughter, and this nursing child has a brother. If his brother wants to marry the daughter of the man whose wife nursed him, is it permissible or not?
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : How is it permissible, my brothers? Did you understand the question well? A child nursed from a woman and he has a brother. Is it permissible for his brother to marry the daughter of the woman who nursed his brother? Is it permissible?
His brother’s sister is his brother’s sister, my brothers.
The student: It is permissible.
The Shaykh : Reflect, may Allah bless you. Do not answer on impulse. These are serious issues. The question again: A child nursed from a woman, and she had a daughter. Is it permissible for his brother to marry this daughter?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Okay, it is permissible. Yes, it is permissible, because we apply this rule. Is this daughter the mother of the nursing child’s brother?
We start from the beginning.
Is she his mother? Okay.
Is she his daughter?
Is she his sister?
Is she his paternal aunt?
Is she his maternal aunt?
Is she his brother’s daughter?
Is she his sister’s daughter?
No. So she is permissible for him. Therefore, I will give you a rule for this issue: Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and his descendants. Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and his descendants. As for his fathers, mothers, brothers, and uncles, breastfeeding has no effect on them. Did you understand well? Breastfeeding does not affect anyone except the nursing child and... and his descendants. As for his brothers, fathers, and mothers, there is no connection.