Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur'an and Hadith, Volume 02
According to Islamic teachings, it is permissible for a husband to enjoy physical intimacy with his wife, except in a few specifically prohibited situations. These include intercourse through the anus, intercourse during menstruation or postpartum bleeding, and intercourse while in the state of Ihram during Hajj or Umrah. Apart from these prohibitions, a husband is allowed to take pleasure in any other form of physical intimacy with his wife, such as kissing, embracing, and other forms of physical closeness.
If a husband accidentally or intentionally drinks his wife's breast milk, it does not establish any Shar’i prohibition. This is because breastfeeding by an adult does not result in the establishment of a mahram (non-marriageable) relationship. The ruling of milk-based prohibition (i.e., becoming a foster child) is only applicable when a child under two years of age is breastfed five or more times. In the case of an adult, such breastfeeding has no legal effect according to Islamic jurisprudence.
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta stated:
"It is permissible for a husband to enjoy all aspects of his wife's body, except for intercourse through the anus, during menstruation and postpartum bleeding, and while in the state of Ihram. If a husband drinks his wife's milk, no prohibition or marital change results from this."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah lil-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Ifta’, 19/351-352)
Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله also said:
"The breastfeeding of an adult has no legal effect, because the impactful breastfeeding is that which occurs within two years of age and consists of five or more feedings. If a husband drinks his wife's milk, he does not become her son."
(Fatawa Islamiyyah, 3/338)
➊ It is permissible for a husband to enjoy his wife's body, with the exception of specific prohibited actions.
➋ Drinking a wife's breast milk does not create any prohibition or foster relationship between husband and wife.
➌ Adult breastfeeding has no impact on legal rulings, as the law of fosterage applies only to breastfeeding within the first two years of life.
✿ Physical Intimacy and the Ruling on Breast Milk Between Husband and Wife
According to Islamic teachings, it is permissible for a husband to enjoy physical intimacy with his wife, except in a few specifically prohibited situations. These include intercourse through the anus, intercourse during menstruation or postpartum bleeding, and intercourse while in the state of Ihram during Hajj or Umrah. Apart from these prohibitions, a husband is allowed to take pleasure in any other form of physical intimacy with his wife, such as kissing, embracing, and other forms of physical closeness.
➊ Husband Drinking His Wife’s Milk
If a husband accidentally or intentionally drinks his wife's breast milk, it does not establish any Shar’i prohibition. This is because breastfeeding by an adult does not result in the establishment of a mahram (non-marriageable) relationship. The ruling of milk-based prohibition (i.e., becoming a foster child) is only applicable when a child under two years of age is breastfed five or more times. In the case of an adult, such breastfeeding has no legal effect according to Islamic jurisprudence.
➋ Opinion of the Scholars
The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta stated:
"It is permissible for a husband to enjoy all aspects of his wife's body, except for intercourse through the anus, during menstruation and postpartum bleeding, and while in the state of Ihram. If a husband drinks his wife's milk, no prohibition or marital change results from this."
(Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah lil-Buhuth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Ifta’, 19/351-352)
Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله also said:
"The breastfeeding of an adult has no legal effect, because the impactful breastfeeding is that which occurs within two years of age and consists of five or more feedings. If a husband drinks his wife's milk, he does not become her son."
(Fatawa Islamiyyah, 3/338)
❖ Summary
➊ It is permissible for a husband to enjoy his wife's body, with the exception of specific prohibited actions.
➋ Drinking a wife's breast milk does not create any prohibition or foster relationship between husband and wife.
➌ Adult breastfeeding has no impact on legal rulings, as the law of fosterage applies only to breastfeeding within the first two years of life.
