Does Breastfeeding by a Young Widow Establish Kinship in Islam?

Ruling on a Ten-Year-Old Widow Breastfeeding a Child
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpuri

❖ Question:​

If a ten-year-old widow puts her breast in a child’s mouth, and some fluid comes out — what is the Islamic ruling?

❖ Answer:​

Merely placing the breast in the child’s mouth or the release of fluid does not establish the legal kinship of raḍāʿah (breastfeeding).


For raḍāʿah to be valid, the child must consume breast milk at least five separate times.

✿ Ḥadīth Evidence:​

Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:


"لَا تُحَرِّمُ الْمَصَّةُ وَالْمَصَّتَانِ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1450)

Translation:
“One suckling or two does not make (the relationship) unlawful (i.e., it does not establish raḍāʿah).”


And in another narration:


"لَا تُحَرِّمُ الْإِمْلَاجَةُ وَالْإِمْلَاجَتَانِ"
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1451)

Translation:
“One or two instances of placing the breast in the mouth do not establish the prohibition (of marriage through breastfeeding).”


Therefore, in the case mentioned:

• The age of the woman (being ten years old) is not relevant to the ruling.
• What matters is that the child must drink milk five times or more for raḍāʿah to be established.
• Simply sucking or having fluid come out once or twice does not suffice.