The Nature of Breastfeeding That Prohibits Marriage
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Question:
The first message in this episode is from a listener named Qabil Qabir al-Harbi. We addressed some of his questions in a previous episode, and in this episode he has a question. I understood from it that he is asking about the nature of breastfeeding that prohibits marriage. Please elaborate on this topic for him, if you please. 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 whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
The basis of breastfeeding is what He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in His great Book, in Surat al-Nisa, when He mentioned the prohibited categories. He said: : [al-Nisa: 23]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1937Sahih (Darussalam). Breastfeeding is when a small child—under the age of two—sucks milk from a woman. This is called breastfeeding. It is also considered breastfeeding if milk from the woman is given to the child to drink without sucking. However, the prohibition is not established unless there are five breastfeedings. It must be five breastfeedings: the child holds the breast, sucks the milk, then releases the breast, and then returns to breastfeeding in that same sitting, or in another sitting, until five breastfeedings are completed. This is on the condition that the milk reaches the child’s stomach from the woman, and that this occurs within the two-year period.
If the milk does not reach the stomach, or if it is water rather than milk, or if the child sucks without anything, this does not count. The child must suck milk from the woman within the two-year period, before being weaned, before the completion of two years. If the breastfeeding is five times within the two-year period, before the child is weaned, then this is the breastfeeding that results in the prohibition.
Likewise, if it is more than five times; this is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Sahlah bint Sahil:. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1940Sahih (Darussalam). And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 8:198. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 8:197. And what is established in Sahih Muslim from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: “Among what was revealed in the Qur’an were ten known breastfeedings that prohibit marriage, then they were abrogated by five known breastfeedings. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away while the matter remained as such.” Al-Tirmidhi narrated it with this wording. This is the breastfeeding, and this is its ruling.
If the breastfeeding is less than five times, the prohibition is not established. Or if it is after the two-year period, the prohibition is not established. Or if the breastfeeding is just sucking without anything, and the woman has no milk, the prohibition is not established by mere sucking. Or if she has water, because an older woman has only water, no milk, and the prohibition is not established by that. There must be milk, there must be five times or more, and it must be within the two-year period before the child is weaned. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh! Among the messages that have come to us for this program are cases where the owners believe they are from breastfeeding. For example, if a girl breastfeeds her brother, and she is not yet married, and she believes that milk has come from her, is this considered breastfeeding that prohibits marriage?
The Shaykh: Yes, yes. If a girl produces genuine milk, or an old woman, it counts; she becomes his mother. Five times or more. It is not required that this be due to a husband or due to pregnancy; this is the correct view. As for the condition that it be due to a husband or due to pregnancy, there is no evidence for that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Breastfeeding from a pregnant woman as well, Your Eminence the Shaykh?
The Shaykh: Yes, likewise.
The presenter: Does it have the same ruling?
The Shaykh: Yes, yes. And the father is the one who is pregnant.
The presenter: And the father through breastfeeding is the one who is pregnant. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The first message in this episode is from a listener named Qabil Qabir al-Harbi. We addressed some of his questions in a previous episode, and in this episode he has a question. I understood from it that he is asking about the nature of breastfeeding that prohibits marriage. Please elaborate on this topic for him, if you please. 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 whoever follows his guidance. As for what follows:
The basis of breastfeeding is what He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said in His great Book, in Surat al-Nisa, when He mentioned the prohibited categories. He said: :
your [milk] mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing
وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ اللَّاتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِBreast-feeding makes unlawful (for marriages) the same things that blood tie make unlawful.
يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسبIf the milk does not reach the stomach, or if it is water rather than milk, or if the child sucks without anything, this does not count. The child must suck milk from the woman within the two-year period, before being weaned, before the completion of two years. If the breastfeeding is five times within the two-year period, before the child is weaned, then this is the breastfeeding that results in the prohibition.
Likewise, if it is more than five times; this is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Sahlah bint Sahil:
Breastfeed Salim five times; you will be forbidden to him
أرضعي سالمًا خمس رضعات؛ تحرمي عليهBreastfeeding once or twice
لا تحرم الرضعة، ولا الرضعتانSuckling applies only (to infants) during the first two years (of their life).
لا رضاع إلا في الحولينThe suckling that makes marriage unlawful is that which reaches the intestines (i.e. nourishes the child), and is taken before (two years) time of weaning.
لا رضاع إلا ما فتق الأمعاء، وكان قبل الفطامIf the breastfeeding is less than five times, the prohibition is not established. Or if it is after the two-year period, the prohibition is not established. Or if the breastfeeding is just sucking without anything, and the woman has no milk, the prohibition is not established by mere sucking. Or if she has water, because an older woman has only water, no milk, and the prohibition is not established by that. There must be milk, there must be five times or more, and it must be within the two-year period before the child is weaned. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh! Among the messages that have come to us for this program are cases where the owners believe they are from breastfeeding. For example, if a girl breastfeeds her brother, and she is not yet married, and she believes that milk has come from her, is this considered breastfeeding that prohibits marriage?
The Shaykh: Yes, yes. If a girl produces genuine milk, or an old woman, it counts; she becomes his mother. Five times or more. It is not required that this be due to a husband or due to pregnancy; this is the correct view. As for the condition that it be due to a husband or due to pregnancy, there is no evidence for that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. Breastfeeding from a pregnant woman as well, Your Eminence the Shaykh?
The Shaykh: Yes, likewise.
The presenter: Does it have the same ruling?
The Shaykh: Yes, yes. And the father is the one who is pregnant.
The presenter: And the father through breastfeeding is the one who is pregnant. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.