Benefits of the Hadith: (… Aflah, the brother of Abu al-Qays, came to ask permission to enter upon her, and he was her maternal uncle through breastfeeding, after the hijab had been revealed)

The Shaykh : This hadith, in the narrations that Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him) presented, contains benefits. First, this Aflah was the brother of the husband of the woman who breastfed Aisha. Since he was his brother, he became Aisha’s maternal uncle. However, the matter was confusing for Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) because the husband was not the one who breastfed; rather, the wife did. So she (may Allah be pleased with her) thought that the milk of the male, meaning the man’s milk, has no effect. Therefore, she prevented him from entering upon her until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came, and she sought his permission. He said, “Give him permission.” It also contains the fact that the milk of the male has an effect, meaning that if a woman breastfeeds a child and her husband has children from other women, then those children from the other women become brothers to this breastfeeding child, but they are brothers to him through the father. Similarly, if this nursing mother has children from a husband other than the one with whom she is currently married, then her children from the first husband become brothers to this child, but through the mother. Do you understand? Thus, breastfeeding can result in siblings through the mother, siblings through the father, or siblings through both the mother and the father. This is based on the generality of his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: It also contains the extreme scrupulousness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), for Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) prevented him until she sought the permission of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It also contains that a supplication not intended to be fulfilled is not prohibited, as in the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Aisha: “Tarab” means sticking to the dust, which is an allusion to poverty, indicating that a person has nothing but dust. But did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intend by this to curse Aisha with that? No, rather he intended to urge her to give him permission and not to refuse. It remains to be said that there is a great difference between saying “tarab” and saying “atrab.” “Atrab” means becoming wealthy until one’s wealth is like dust in abundance. As for “tarab,” it means becoming poor, i.e., one’s hand sticks to the dust due to the lack of money. This hadith also contains the benefit that a woman should not be shy of her brothers through breastfeeding, or her maternal uncles through breastfeeding, or her husband’s father, or her husband’s son, or the like. This is because some women refuse to do so, meaning they refuse to allow their face to be seen by any of their non-blood mahrams. This is not appropriate. If she intends by this to be religious, then there is no doubt that it contradicts the text. If what drives her to do so is shyness and modesty, that is less severe, but she should not be shy of what is right. That is, some women do not uncover their faces for their husbands. Is she sinful or not? We say that if she intends by this to be religious, she is sinful for contradicting the Shari'ah. If it is due to shyness and modesty, she should not be shy or embarrassed by a permissible religious matter. Yes.
The student: ...

The Shaykh : What we have reached will come, if Allah wills.

The questioner : His (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: …?

The Shaykh : What?

The questioner : ...

The Shaykh : Yes, yes, yes. What is prohibited through breastfeeding is what is prohibited through blood relations. The rule is that the effect of breastfeeding applies only to the breastfeeding child and his descendants. As for his ancestors and collaterals, it has no effect. Is this clear?
The students: Yes, yes.

The Shaykh : This is an important rule: what is prohibited through breastfeeding is what is prohibited through blood relations. The scholars derived from this the rule that breastfeeding does not extend the prohibition except to the breastfeeding child and his descendants, and not to those in his degree or higher, meaning not to his brothers, uncles, or fathers. They have no connection to breastfeeding. Let us give an example to clarify the matter. One example: a child breastfed by a woman becomes her son. What is the relationship of this child’s brother to the woman?
The students: Nothing.

The Shaykh : Nothing. He has no relationship to her; she is not his mother, nor his sister, nor his sister’s daughter, nor anything else.
The student: ...

The Shaykh : That is, what is upon him from it. The discussion regarding breastfeeding pertains to the person himself. Is this clear?
The student: ...

The Shaykh : No, there is absolutely no problem. Take the rule as established; it does not need anything, there is no problem in it. Yes.