Question
Can a husband kiss his wife’s breast during intimacy? And if milk goes into his mouth during this, what is the Islamic ruling on it?
Answer
Sucking a wife’s breasts during intimacy is permissible, and if milk goes into the mouth during this, there is no harm in it and no expiation (kaffarah) is obligatory upon him.
The Shari’ principle regarding nursing and prohibition:
Nursing (rida’ah) is established by a non-mahram being nursed, but for it the Shari’ah has laid down specific conditions, which include determining the quantity of milk and the age of nursing. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
«کان فيما أنزل القرآن عشر رضعات معلومات يحر من ثم نسخن بخمس معلومات»
“In the initial ruling in the Quran, ten known sucklings made marriage prohibited; then this ruling was abrogated by five known sucklings.”
In another narration from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
«لا تحرم المصتہ ولا لمصتان»
“A single or two sucklings do not establish prohibition.”
It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Salamah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Only that nursing which opens up the intestines and occurs before the period of weaning establishes prohibition.”
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
«لا رضاع إلا فی الحولين»
“The prohibition of nursing is only valid within two years.”
From the above ahadith it becomes clear that for the establishment of the prohibition of nursing, it is necessary for the child to drink milk until full satiety, five times, within the age of two years.
The ruling for the husband:
According to the situation described in the question, if milk goes into the husband’s mouth during intimacy, then nursing is not established by it, because the conditions mentioned above are not being fulfilled. Therefore, by the husband sucking his wife’s breasts and a limited quantity of milk entering his mouth, nursing and prohibition are not established.
