❀ Does a Single Sip of Milk Establish Breastfeeding (Riḍāʿah) Relation? ❀
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, Page 445
Question
What do the scholars of Islam say regarding this case: A girl drank only once, just a few drops of milk, from a woman named “Alif.” Can the son of that woman marry this girl?
✔ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
It should be clear that the son of the woman “Alif” can marry the said girl.
◈ Common Misconception
Some people assume that such a marriage is not permissible because the girl becomes a foster-sister by drinking even a single sip of milk. They argue that whoever drinks even one gulp becomes the milk-sibling of that woman’s children.
This is mere analogy and speculation without any Sharʿī evidence. In contrast, authentic aḥādīth of the Prophet ﷺ are explicit on this matter, and such opinions cannot override them.
◈ Sharʿī Ruling on Riḍāʿah
- A child does not become a milk-sibling until he or she drinks milk five times or more.
- As narrated in the authentic ḥadīth:
((عن عائشة رضى الله عنها إنها قالت كان فيماأنزل من القرآن عشر رضعات معلومات يحرم ثم نسخن بخمس معلومات فتوفى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهى فيما يقرأ من القرآن.))
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Riḍāʿ, Bāb al-Taḥrīm bi-Khams Riḍaʿāt, Ḥadīth no. 3597
Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها reported:
“At first, the Qur’an prescribed that ten known sucklings establish prohibition. Then this was abrogated to five known sucklings. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away while this was still recited as Qur’an.”
◈ Another Ḥadīth
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((لا تحرم المصة والمصتان.))
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth no. 359
“One or two sucklings do not establish prohibition (of riḍāʿah).”
Summary
- A single sip or a few drops of milk do not establish the prohibition of riḍāʿah.
- Whoever ignores these authentic aḥādīth and relies solely on analogy falls into misguidance.
- If a single sip were enough to establish riḍāʿah, the Prophet ﷺ would certainly have taught it explicitly.
◈ Qur’anic Guidance
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ﴾
(al-Ḥashr: 7)
“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it. And fear Allah, indeed Allah is severe in punishment.”
Conclusion
The son of the woman “Alif” can marry the said girl, because drinking just once or only a few drops of milk does not establish riḍāʿah prohibition.
Hadhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
