5 Shar‘i Rulings Regarding a Husband Drinking His Wife’s Milk
Derived from: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
(Complete explanation with evidences from Qur’an, Hadith, and fiqh)
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
If a husband sucks his wife's breast and a small amount of milk enters his mouth, will the relationship of Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) be established between them according to Islamic law?
No, Riḍā‘ah is not established in this case because the necessary conditions for milk kinship are not fulfilled.
Islamically, Riḍā‘ah refers to:
A non-maḥram child consuming breastmilk from a woman, which establishes a type of kinship that prohibits marriage.
But for this to take effect, two essential conditions must be met:
➊ The child must be under two years old
➋ The milk must be consumed at least five separate times, fully nourishing the child
❖ Hadith #1 – Five feedings establish Riḍā‘ah:
“There was revealed in the Qur’an that ten known feedings cause prohibition, then it was abrogated to five known feedings.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Raḍā‘, Ḥadīth: 1452)
❖ Hadith #2 – One or two feedings are not sufficient:
“One or two feedings do not make something unlawful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1450)
❖ Hadith #3 – Must nourish the body:
“Riḍā‘ah that prohibits (marriage) is only what nourishes and passes into the intestines, during the nursing period.”
(Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī: 1152)
❖ Hadith #4 – Within two years only:
“No Riḍā‘ah is valid except that which occurs within two years.”
(Muṣannaf ‘Abd al-Razzāq, Vol 3, Ḥadīth: 1390)
From all the above ahadith, the scholars have derived these three primary conditions for Riḍā‘ah:
➊ Age Limit: Must occur before the child turns two years old
➋ Quantity: At least five separate full feedings
➌ Effect: The milk should nourish the child and reach the intestines
In the case where:
✔ A husband sucks his wife's breast, and
✔ A small amount of milk enters the mouth,
Then:
✘ He is not under two years of age
✘ He has not consumed five full feedings
✘ There is no nourishing effect as in infants
❖ Therefore, Riḍā‘ah is not established.
This action does not lead to any legal changes in their relationship under Islamic law.
✔ No Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) is established when a husband drinks a small amount of his wife's milk.
✔ This does not invalidate the marriage.
✔ The condition of two years and five feedings are mandatory for Riḍā‘ah to take effect.
وبالله التوفيق
Derived from: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
(Complete explanation with evidences from Qur’an, Hadith, and fiqh)
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❖ Question:
If a husband sucks his wife's breast and a small amount of milk enters his mouth, will the relationship of Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) be established between them according to Islamic law?
Summary of Ruling:
No, Riḍā‘ah is not established in this case because the necessary conditions for milk kinship are not fulfilled.
✦ ① Definition and Legal Impact of Riḍā‘ah (رضاعت)
Islamically, Riḍā‘ah refers to:
A non-maḥram child consuming breastmilk from a woman, which establishes a type of kinship that prohibits marriage.
But for this to take effect, two essential conditions must be met:
➊ The child must be under two years old
➋ The milk must be consumed at least five separate times, fully nourishing the child
✦ ② Evidences from Hadith
❖ Hadith #1 – Five feedings establish Riḍā‘ah:
“There was revealed in the Qur’an that ten known feedings cause prohibition, then it was abrogated to five known feedings.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Raḍā‘, Ḥadīth: 1452)
❖ Hadith #2 – One or two feedings are not sufficient:
“One or two feedings do not make something unlawful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 1450)
❖ Hadith #3 – Must nourish the body:
“Riḍā‘ah that prohibits (marriage) is only what nourishes and passes into the intestines, during the nursing period.”
(Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī: 1152)
❖ Hadith #4 – Within two years only:
“No Riḍā‘ah is valid except that which occurs within two years.”
(Muṣannaf ‘Abd al-Razzāq, Vol 3, Ḥadīth: 1390)
✦ ③ Fiqh Summary
From all the above ahadith, the scholars have derived these three primary conditions for Riḍā‘ah:
➊ Age Limit: Must occur before the child turns two years old
➋ Quantity: At least five separate full feedings
➌ Effect: The milk should nourish the child and reach the intestines
✦ ④ Application to the Case of a Husband Drinking Breastmilk
In the case where:
✔ A husband sucks his wife's breast, and
✔ A small amount of milk enters the mouth,
Then:
✘ He is not under two years of age
✘ He has not consumed five full feedings
✘ There is no nourishing effect as in infants
❖ Therefore, Riḍā‘ah is not established.
This action does not lead to any legal changes in their relationship under Islamic law.
✦ ⑤ Ruling and Conclusion
✔ No Riḍā‘ah (milk kinship) is established when a husband drinks a small amount of his wife's milk.
✔ This does not invalidate the marriage.
✔ The condition of two years and five feedings are mandatory for Riḍā‘ah to take effect.
وبالله التوفيق
