Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 195
Some scholars hold that if a child breastfeeds even once within the first two years, the prohibition of breastfeeding (ḥurmat al-raḍāʿah) is established. Their evidence includes the following:
Ibn ʿAbbās said: If a child breastfeeds even once within two years, the prohibition is established.
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik, 7/607, narration of Thawr ibn Zayd al-Daylī from Ibn ʿAbbās)
The chain through Thawr ibn Zayd from Ibn ʿAbbās is munqaṭiʿ (disconnected), but in al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (Vol. 7, p. 462), it appears with a connected chain: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad (al-Darāwardī) → Thawr ibn Zayd → ʿIkrimah → Ibn ʿAbbās.
Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله said:
“This is the correct mawqūf narration.”
Both stated that any breastfeeding within two years, even a drop, establishes the prohibition.
(Muwaṭṭaʾ, Vol. 2, p. 604)
Both reports are authentic.
Whether the breastfeeding is little or much, the prohibition is established.
This statement is also authentic in Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik.
Those who require at least five feedings base their view on:
Initially, the Qurʾān mentioned ten feedings, later abrogated to five, and prohibition is established only with a minimum of five.
(Note: The verse of “ten feedings” is no longer in the Qurʾān as its recitation was abrogated.)
The case of Sahlah bint Suhayl, wife of Abū Ḥudhayfah:
She said, “We considered Sālim as our son, but now he is grown. What should we do?”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Breastfeed him five times, and he will become your maḥram.”
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik)
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها concluded that raḍāʿat kabīr is permissible if done five times.
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها and the rest of the Prophet’s ﷺ wives, along with the majority of the Ummah, held that raḍāʿat kabīr is not permissible, restricting the ruling to Sālim’s case alone.
A sound report in Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik (Vol. 2, p. 606) shows that ʿUmar did not allow raḍāʿat kabīr.
This is also the view of the majority and is considered the stronger opinion.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
1. Duration and Number of Breastfeeding Sessions
Opinion: One Time within Two Years Is Sufficient
Some scholars hold that if a child breastfeeds even once within the first two years, the prohibition of breastfeeding (ḥurmat al-raḍāʿah) is established. Their evidence includes the following:
① Statement of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما
Ibn ʿAbbās said: If a child breastfeeds even once within two years, the prohibition is established.
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik, 7/607, narration of Thawr ibn Zayd al-Daylī from Ibn ʿAbbās)
The chain through Thawr ibn Zayd from Ibn ʿAbbās is munqaṭiʿ (disconnected), but in al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (Vol. 7, p. 462), it appears with a connected chain: ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad (al-Darāwardī) → Thawr ibn Zayd → ʿIkrimah → Ibn ʿAbbās.
Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله said:
“This is the correct mawqūf narration.”
② Statements of Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib and ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr رحمهما الله
Both stated that any breastfeeding within two years, even a drop, establishes the prohibition.
(Muwaṭṭaʾ, Vol. 2, p. 604)
Both reports are authentic.
③ Statement of Imām Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhrī رحمه الله
Whether the breastfeeding is little or much, the prohibition is established.
This statement is also authentic in Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik.
Opinion: Minimum of Five Breastfeedings Required
Those who require at least five feedings base their view on:
Hadith of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
Initially, the Qurʾān mentioned ten feedings, later abrogated to five, and prohibition is established only with a minimum of five.
(Note: The verse of “ten feedings” is no longer in the Qurʾān as its recitation was abrogated.)
2. Ruling on Raḍāʿat Kabīr (Breastfeeding a Grown Person)
View of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
The case of Sahlah bint Suhayl, wife of Abū Ḥudhayfah:
She said, “We considered Sālim as our son, but now he is grown. What should we do?”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Breastfeed him five times, and he will become your maḥram.”
(Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik)
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها concluded that raḍāʿat kabīr is permissible if done five times.
View of the Other Mothers of the Believers and Majority
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها and the rest of the Prophet’s ﷺ wives, along with the majority of the Ummah, held that raḍāʿat kabīr is not permissible, restricting the ruling to Sālim’s case alone.
Position of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
A sound report in Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik (Vol. 2, p. 606) shows that ʿUmar did not allow raḍāʿat kabīr.
This is also the view of the majority and is considered the stronger opinion.
3. Conclusion
- Duration: Prohibition of breastfeeding may be established within two years even with one feeding, as per Ibn ʿAbbās, Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib, ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, and al-Zuhrī.
- Number: Some scholars require at least five feedings, based on the narration of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها.
- Raḍāʿat Kabīr:
- ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها permitted it generally with the condition of five feedings.
- Majority of scholars, the Mothers of the Believers, and the Rightly Guided Caliphs (especially ʿUmar رضي الله عنه) considered it impermissible, restricting it to the Sālim case only.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.
