Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Gheelah and Ghaylah:
With both a kasrah and a fathah.
It refers to having intercourse with a nursing woman, and according to Ibn al-Sikkit, it refers to a pregnant woman breastfeeding.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ The physicians are of the opinion that disease develops in the milk of a pregnant woman,
and the child who drinks this milk becomes weak and frail,
therefore the Arabs used to avoid this milk.
However, the occurrence of disease and change in the milk is not definite and certain,
sometimes it does cause harm, especially when the child is very young.
Therefore, when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) learned regarding the Persians and Romans
that they were not harmed by gheelah, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) made the same ruling for the Arabs, that they should not be prohibited from this practice.
If someone does avoid it,
then that is better.
(Hujjatullah, vol. 2, p. 135)

If a child is still breastfeeding and conception occurs, sometimes the milk becomes harmful for the child. It becomes necessary to wean the child; otherwise, the child may develop diarrhea. If conception does not occur, then intercourse alone does not harm the milk. Since in such a situation intercourse can become a cause for conception, which would result in harm, therefore this act (ghilah) can also be prohibited, as was the opinion of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). However, since it is almost impossible for the husband to adhere to this restriction—that he should not have intercourse with his wife for nearly two years, especially when he has only one wife—this restriction is contrary to benefit and would unnecessarily put people into hardship and trial. Therefore, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) abandoned this opinion. Thus, now it is permissible to have intercourse during the period of breastfeeding.

Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
Since semen (nutfah) becomes the cause and means of offspring,
therefore, to waste it is to make a futile effort,
to waste the seed and kernel on one’s own accord,
and in this way, in terms of one’s intention and will, it is as if one is secretly destroying offspring.
However, this hadith is not in contradiction with another hadith
in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam refuted the Jews’ claim of coitus interruptus (‘azl) being a minor form of infanticide (maw’udah sughra).
Because the Jews’ belief was that in the case of coitus interruptus (‘azl), conception is not possible,
that a child cannot be born from it at all, and this is absolutely incorrect.
The child whose birth Allah has decreed will certainly be born even if coitus interruptus (‘azl) is practiced.

Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that having intercourse with one's wife during the days of breastfeeding is permissible.

Benefits and Issues:
➊ During the period of breastfeeding, engaging in sexual intercourse carries the risk of pregnancy, which can result in the mother’s milk decreasing, and the breastfeeding child may become weak due to not receiving sufficient milk. In the case of ghīlah (sexual relations during breastfeeding), this risk does exist, however, it is not certain. The deficiency of milk can be compensated with the milk of buffalo, cow, goat, etc. In such circumstances, weaning the child before the due time will not be harmful; therefore, avoiding it is permissible but not obligatory.

➋ Regarding coitus interruptus (‘azl), see the benefits of Hadith: 1926.

Hadith Authentication:
[وأخرجه مسلم 1442، من حديث ما لك به .]

Jurisprudential Points:
➊ If a woman is breastfeeding her child, then after the days of postnatal bleeding (nifas), the husband may have intercourse with his wife during the period of breastfeeding (ridā‘ah).
➋ It is permissible to narrate the incidents of previous nations, provided that the chain of transmission for those incidents is authentic.
➌ A person with greater knowledge and superiority may narrate from someone with lesser knowledge and virtue, because Lady Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrated this hadith from Lady Judama (radi Allahu anha), and by consensus of Ahl al-Sunnah, Lady Aisha is superior to her. May Allah be pleased with them both.
➍ It is permissible for a husband to have intercourse with his pregnant wife, provided there is no fear of harm to the child in the womb.
➎ Every statement and action of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is a favor, goodness, and pure mercy for the Muslim Ummah.
➏ Beneficial and reasonable things may be adopted from non-Muslim nations.
➐ Ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning) is permissible, provided it is not in opposition to clear evidence.