A Comprehensive Rule Regarding Breastfeeding

A message was sent from Jizan by (M. N. A.) who says: I am the imam of a mosque, and the congregation considers me the most knowledgeable person in the town regarding Islamic jurisprudence. This is not due to my excellence or knowledge, but rather because there are few students in our town. I receive many questions regarding breastfeeding and I issue rulings on them, but sometimes I doubt my ruling. Is there a consistent rule regarding the aspects of breastfeeding in terms of permissibility, prohibition, and marriage? I hope my message will be presented to His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz?
Answer: It is obligatory for a student of knowledge that he does not issue a ruling except with insight, and that he does not speak about Allah without knowledge; because Allah has forbidden speaking about Him without knowledge. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to issue a ruling except with knowledge, whether in breastfeeding or otherwise. The student of knowledge is the most deserving of people to be careful, to review the books of the scholars, and to ask the scholars until he is certain about what he wants to issue a ruling on, whether it is breastfeeding or otherwise.
Therefore, the questioner must pay attention to the rulings of breastfeeding and review them in the primary books, and review the statements of the scholars, and understand them, and review the hadiths, such as Bulugh al-Maram, and such as Muntakha al-Akhbar, and so on, the beneficial books that explain the rulings of breastfeeding, until he has insight. When he knows the Sharia rulings regarding breastfeeding, he issues the ruling.
The summary of this is that the breastfeeding that establishes prohibition, by which the prohibition occurs, must have two conditions: First, that the breastfeedings are five times or more. Second, that it is within the two-year period, meaning the child is within the two-year period.
So the mufti must observe this. If the breastfeedings are five or more, and the child was within the two-year period at the time of breastfeeding, then the rulings of breastfeeding apply, and the wet nurse becomes his mother, her children become his siblings, her father becomes his grandfather, and her mother becomes his grandmother, and so on, just like blood relations, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And it is necessary to ensure that the wet nurse who reported it, or the one who reported about her, is trustworthy and just. The wet nurse who is not reliable, or is known for lying, or similar matters that undermine her credibility, her statement that she breastfed so-and-so is not relied upon. Similarly, the one who transmits the breastfeeding from her and testifies to her breastfeeding must be just. In this matter, one trustworthy man or one trustworthy woman is accepted, and it is not accepted from one who is not trustworthy, whether a man or a woman. If a trustworthy person testifies that she breastfed the man five times, or the woman breastfed five times within the two-year period, then this breastfeeding is considered, and the wet nurse becomes the mother of the breastfed child, her mother and grandmothers become his grandmothers, her children become his siblings, and her husband becomes his father, and so on. Yes.
It is obligatory for the mufti to observe this. Then, in breastfeeding, it must be known that a breastfeed is when the child holds the breast, sucks the milk, and then releases it. This is one breastfeed. If the child holds the breast, sucks the milk, and swallows the milk, this is one. If he releases it and returns and sucks the milk, this is the second. If he releases it and returns, this is the third, and so on, until he completes five breastfeedings, even if it is in one sitting, or in one hour.
And so, if it is over days or times, there is no harm. Yes.
The result is that he must be concerned and careful, and not be lenient, neither regarding the number of breastfeedings, nor regarding the wet nurse, nor regarding the witness to the breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is like blood relations . If it is established, and if he is confused about something, he should not rush to issue a ruling. He should delay and not rush until the matter becomes clear to him, or he should contact the scholars and ask them, or write to those far from him and ask them, until he is certain and has insight. This is part of the obligatory caution and the obligatory scrupulousness, so that he does not speak about Allah without knowledge. Yes.
The presenter: Okay, regarding breastfeeding, "what is prohibited by breastfeeding is prohibited by blood relations," but is the milk always for the husband and the wife, or for the husband only?
The Shaykh: For both of them.
The presenter: For both of them?!
The Shaykh: For the male and the wife. For this reason, the brothers of the husband become the uncles of the breastfed child, and his father becomes the grandfather of the breastfed child, and his children from another wife are also siblings to the breastfed child from his father. So it is connected to the male and the mother. All the children of the wet nurse are siblings to the breastfed child, from this husband or from another, from a previous husband or a later husband. And so, the husband who is the source of the milk, his children from this wet nurse are siblings to the breastfed child, and his children from others are also siblings to the breastfed child, before her or after her. Yes.