5 Shar‘i Rulings Regarding a Husband Drinking His Wife’s Milk
Derived from: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
(Complete explanation with evidences from Qur’an, Hadith, and fiqh)
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❖ Question:
If a husband sucks his wife’s breast and a small amount of milk enters his mouth, will the relationship of Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) be established between them according to Islamic law?
✅ Summary of Ruling:
No, Riḍā‘ah is not established in this case because the necessary conditions for milk kinship are not fulfilled.
✦ ① Definition and Legal Impact of Riḍā‘ah (رضاعت)
Islamically, Riḍā‘ah refers to:
A non-maḥram child consuming breastmilk from a woman, which establishes a type of kinship that prohibits marriage.
But for this to take effect, two essential conditions must be met:
➊ The child must be under two years old
➋ The milk must be consumed at least five separate times, fully nourishing the child
✦ ② Evidences from Hadith
❖ Hadith #1 – Five feedings establish Riḍā‘ah:
“There was revealed in the Qur’an that ten known feedings cause prohibition, then it was abrogated to five known feedings.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Raḍā‘, Ḥadīth: 1452)
❖ Hadith #2 – One or two feedings are not sufficient:
“One or two feedings do not make something unlawful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1450)
❖ Hadith #3 – Must nourish the body:
“Riḍā‘ah that prohibits (marriage) is only what nourishes and passes into the intestines, during the nursing period.”
(Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī: 1152)
❖ Hadith #4 – Within two years only:
“No Riḍā‘ah is valid except that which occurs within two years.”
(Muṣannaf ‘Abd al-Razzāq, Vol 3, Ḥadīth: 1390)
✦ ③ Fiqh Summary
From all the above ahadith, the scholars have derived these three primary conditions for Riḍā‘ah:
➊ Age Limit: Must occur before the child turns two years old
➋ Quantity: At least five separate full feedings
➌ Effect: The milk should nourish the child and reach the intestines
✦ ④ Application to the Case of a Husband Drinking Breastmilk
In the case where:
✔ A husband sucks his wife’s breast, and
✔ A small amount of milk enters the mouth,
Then:
✘ He is not under two years of age
✘ He has not consumed five full feedings
✘ There is no nourishing effect as in infants
❖ Therefore, Riḍā‘ah is not established.
This action does not lead to any legal changes in their relationship under Islamic law.
✦ ⑤ Ruling and Conclusion
✔ No Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) is established when a husband drinks a small amount of his wife’s milk.
✔ This does not invalidate the marriage.
✔ The condition of two years and five feedings are mandatory for Riḍā‘ah to take effect.
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