❖ Ruling on Intimacy (Ghīlah) During Breastfeeding ❖
Authored by: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
Sources: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, al-Muwaṭṭaʾ, al-Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah
📌 What is Ghīlah?
Ghīlah refers to:
➤ A husband engaging in marital intimacy with his wife while she is breastfeeding an infant.
✦ Ḥadīth of Ḥaḍrat Juthāmah bint Wahb (رضي الله عنها):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I had intended to prohibit Ghīlah, but then I saw that the Romans and Persians practice it, and it does not cause harm to their children.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1442 – Kitāb al-Nikāḥ: Bāb Jawāz al-Ghīlah]
[Abū Dāwūd: 3882, al-Muwaṭṭaʾ: 2/607, al-Tirmidhī: 2077, Ibn Mājah: 2011]
✅ Sharʿī Ruling:
From this authentic ḥadīth, we derive that:
➤ Ghīlah is permissible (جائز).
➤ The Prophet ﷺ intended to prohibit it, fearing harm to the infant,
➤ But upon observing other nations (Romans and Persians) practicing it without harm, he refrained from forbidding it.
📝 Conclusion:
➤ Marital intimacy during breastfeeding is allowed in Islam.
➤ There is no proven medical or religious harm as per the Sunnah.
➤ Hence, it is not prohibited, and no sin is associated with it.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
