The Criterion for Prohibitive Breastfeeding

Question:
The first message in this episode is one that reached the program from Najran al-Sha'id. It was sent by our brother, the listener Hadi 'Ayyad 'Ali al-Qahatani, who sent his message via express mail, as his case appears urgent and important. In his message, he says: "Your Eminence, the Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz, may Allah preserve you and benefit the Muslims with you. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. After that, I inform you that I married a girl, and after she gave birth to me four children, there arose a suspicion that there may have been breastfeeding with one of her grandfather's wives from his mother's side, either one or two sucks. After this talk, I went and asked a number of judges, and they informed me that it is not prohibited except with five breastfeedings, but I do not know how the conditions for these five breastfeedings work. Does a single suck count as a breastfeeding, or is it not counted unless the breastfeeding is to the point of satiety? We ask you to inform us. May Allah reward you with good."
I inform you that I married a girl, and after she gave birth to me four children, there arose a suspicion that there may have been breastfeeding with one of her grandfather's wives from his mother's side, either one or two sucks. After this talk, I went and asked a number of judges, and they informed me that it is not prohibited except with five breastfeedings, but I do not know how the conditions for these five breastfeedings work. Does a single suck count as a breastfeeding, or is it not counted unless the breastfeeding is to the point of satiety? We ask you to inform us. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It is also established from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: This was narrated by the Imams Muslim and al-Tirmidhi, and this is the wording of al-Tirmidhi. A breastfeeding (suck) is when the infant sucks the breast until he swallows the milk and it reaches his stomach, and then he releases the breast. When he releases it, the breastfeeding is complete. If he returns and sucks it in a way that causes the milk to reach his stomach, it becomes a second breastfeeding when he releases it, and so on until five are completed. If the breastfeeding is not five, it does not prohibit and is not considered a legal breastfeeding. It must be five breastfeedings or more within the two years before the child is weaned. As for one, two, three, or four breastfeedings, they do not result in prohibition. A breastfeeding is when one sucks the breast until he swallows the milk, until the milk reaches his stomach with certainty that the nurse knows, even if he does not become full. May Allah guide them all.

The presenter : So, given the situation described, there is no effect on their marital status?

The Shaykh : If the reality is as he described, there is no effect. If it was one or two sucks, they have no effect, because his wife is with him, and there is no harm in that.

The presenter : Praise be to Allah. He says it was three sucks, as he mentions?

The Shaykh : Three, two, or four, there is no harm in that. His wife is with him, and this breastfeeding has no effect, unless the breastfeedings are five, known by the testimony of trustworthy women or trustworthy people, and that it occurred within the two years. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good and do you good.