Does Husband Drinking Wife’s Milk Establish Milk Kinship? 5 Rules

Question:

If, when a husband sucks his wife’s breast, some milk enters his mouth, does this establish a foster relationship (milk kinship)?

Answer:

الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!

It is necessary to know whether, when a husband sucks his wife’s breast and a quantity of milk enters his mouth, a foster relationship (milk kinship) is established in the Shari’ah or not. In this regard, the Shari’ah has laid down several important principles and conditions that must be understood.

The Shar’i Principles of Foster-Nursing:

• ❀ Nursing a non-mahram establishes a foster relationship, but for this two important conditions must be present:
  1. ➊ The quantity of milk must be complete (at least five separate feedings)
  2. ➋ The age must be within two years

Shar’i Evidences:

1. ➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:

   “كان فيما أنزل القرآن عشر رضعات معلومات يحرمن، ثم نسخن بخمس معلومات.”

   That is, “It was revealed in the Qur’an that ten known sucklings establish prohibition (by foster-nursing), then this ruling was abrogated by five known sucklings.”

   Reference: (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Radâ’, Bab al-Tahrim bi Khams Rada’at: Hadith 1452)
2. ➋ Similarly, in another narration from Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:

   “لا تحرم المصة ولا المصتان”

   “A single suck or two sucks do not establish prohibition (by foster-nursing).”

   Reference: (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Radâ’: Hadith 1450)
3. ➌ It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

   “لا تحرم الرضعة ولا الرضعتان.”

   “The prohibition (by foster-nursing) is only that which causes the intestines to open up, and this is within the period of weaning.”

   Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: Hadith 1152)
4. ➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him:

   “لا رضاع إلا ما كان في الحولين.”

   “No foster-nursing is considered valid except that which occurs within the period of two years.”

   Reference: (Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq, Volume 3, Hadith 1390)

Jurisprudential Summary:

In light of all these hadiths and narrations, it becomes clear that:

• ❀ The following conditions are necessary for foster-nursing:
  • ➊ Age limit: The child’s age must be under two years.
  • ➋ Quantity condition: At least five times of drinking milk to a full stomach.
  • ➌ Physical effect: The milk must have such an effect that the child’s intestines are moistened.

The Answer in the Context of the Question:

In the specific situation the questioner described, namely the husband sucking his wife’s breast and some milk entering his mouth in a small quantity, in such a case:

• ❀ Neither is the husband’s age within two years
• ❀ Nor has five complete feedings been found

Therefore, in this case foster-nursing is not established. That is, the husband drinking his wife’s milk does not bring into effect the rulings of foster-nursing prohibition.