Bulugh al-Maram

Takhrij:
«أخرجه مسلم، الرضاع، باب في المصة والمصتان، حديث:1450.»©

Explanation:
How much breastfeeding establishes the ruling of rada‘ah (milk kinship)? There is a difference of opinion on this matter.
The majority (jumhur) hold the view that the ruling of rada‘ah is established whether a little or a lot of milk is consumed—both cases are sufficient.
Imam Dawud al-Zahiri, (according to one narration) Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq, Abu Ubaydah rahimahumullah, and others have stated, in accordance with the meaning of this hadith, that the ruling of rada‘ah is established by breastfeeding three times, but not by two.
Imam al-Shafi‘i rahimahullah says that rada‘ah is established by five feedings, and he has deduced this from the explicit wording (mantuq) of the narration of Aisha radi Allahu anha, which is coming ahead, and it is evident that explicit wording is stronger than implied meaning (mafhum). Also, in common usage among people, when they say that a certain matter is not established by one or two, it does not mean that it will be established by three; rather, it means that what is intended is an unrestricted number or abundance.
As for the view of the majority that the ruling of rada‘ah is established by both a small and large amount, they have deduced this from the statement of Allah Ta‘ala: ﴿ وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ الَّتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ ﴾ (al-Nisa 4:23), but in reality, there is no evidence for them in this.
Rather, the word “mother” itself necessitates that the prohibition (hurmah) of the wet nurse is only established when she has breastfed to such an extent that she deserves to be called a mother.
Only she can be described with this attribute who has either given birth to the child, or whose body’s part (milk) has become a part of the child’s body, and this is not achieved by mere breastfeeding; rather, for its establishment, it is necessary that the amount of milk becomes a part of the child’s body. And it is not known how much milk can become a part of the body; therefore, it is necessary to refer to the amount specified by the Lawgiver (shari‘ alayhi al-salam).
Therefore, upon deep and thorough consideration, it becomes clear that all the ahadith regarding rada‘ah revolve around this cause and reason. Thus, the conditions of hunger, opening of the intestines, growth of bones, increase and formation of flesh, and the condition that this breastfeeding occurs within two years—all of these are due to this very cause and reason. Thus, it is clear that the Qur’anic verse does not support the view of the majority, but rather supports the position adopted by Imam al-Shafi‘i rahimahullah, and there is no contradiction between the hadith and the Qur’anic verse; rather, there is complete agreement and conformity between the two.
If unrestricted breastfeeding were intended, then the divine statement would have been: «اَلنِّسَائُ الّٰتِيْٓ أَرْضَعْنَکُمْ» “Those women who have breastfed you.”