Excerpt from the book: Ahkām wa Masā'il Kitāb o Sunnat ki Roshni mein by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbani
If a man mistakenly drinks the milk of his wife, does the marital relationship remain valid, or is it nullified?
Imām Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd رحمه الله narrates that:
"A man asked Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه:
‘I have sucked my wife’s breast and the milk has entered my stomach.’
Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه replied:
‘I believe she has become unlawful (ḥarām) for you.’
Then ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه remarked:
‘Reflect upon the fatwā you are giving this man!’
Abū Mūsā said:
‘What is your opinion?’
Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه replied:
“رَضَاعَةٌ مَا أَنْبَتَتِ اللَّحْمَ وَالدَّمَ”
‘Suckling is only that which grows flesh and blood (i.e., within the prescribed age).’”
Abū Mūsā then said:
‘As long as this scholar is present among you, do not ask me any questions.’
Sources: al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Mālik, Kitāb al-Raḍāʿ (14); Musnad Aḥmad (1/432, Ḥadīth: 4114); Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl (7/223–224)
From this authentic narration, we learn that the legal effect of breastfeeding (raḍāʿah) that leads to the prohibition (ḥurmah) of marriage only applies within the first two years of the child's life, as confirmed in three places in the Noble Qur’an, stating that the period of breastfeeding is two complete years.
Therefore, suckling at an older age does not establish legal breastfeeding (raḍāʿah), and a woman does not become unlawful (ḥarām) for her husband due to such an act.
The fatwā of Faqīh al-Ummah, ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, perfectly aligns with the Noble Qur’an, and Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه himself accepted it.
It must be noted that:
A woman’s milk is not for a man,
Rather, it is exclusively for her children.
The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah establish that a mother’s milk is a right of the children, not of the husband.
❖ Question:
If a man mistakenly drinks the milk of his wife, does the marital relationship remain valid, or is it nullified?
❖ Answer:
Imām Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd رحمه الله narrates that:
"A man asked Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه:
‘I have sucked my wife’s breast and the milk has entered my stomach.’
Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه replied:
‘I believe she has become unlawful (ḥarām) for you.’
Then ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه remarked:
‘Reflect upon the fatwā you are giving this man!’
Abū Mūsā said:
‘What is your opinion?’
Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه replied:
“رَضَاعَةٌ مَا أَنْبَتَتِ اللَّحْمَ وَالدَّمَ”
‘Suckling is only that which grows flesh and blood (i.e., within the prescribed age).’”
Abū Mūsā then said:
‘As long as this scholar is present among you, do not ask me any questions.’
Sources: al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Mālik, Kitāb al-Raḍāʿ (14); Musnad Aḥmad (1/432, Ḥadīth: 4114); Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl (7/223–224)❖ Ruling Derived:
From this authentic narration, we learn that the legal effect of breastfeeding (raḍāʿah) that leads to the prohibition (ḥurmah) of marriage only applies within the first two years of the child's life, as confirmed in three places in the Noble Qur’an, stating that the period of breastfeeding is two complete years.
Therefore, suckling at an older age does not establish legal breastfeeding (raḍāʿah), and a woman does not become unlawful (ḥarām) for her husband due to such an act.
The fatwā of Faqīh al-Ummah, ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, perfectly aligns with the Noble Qur’an, and Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه himself accepted it.
❖ Important Clarification:
It must be noted that:
A woman’s milk is not for a man,
Rather, it is exclusively for her children.
The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah establish that a mother’s milk is a right of the children, not of the husband.
