Ruling on Marriage Between Children of Sisters in Light of Fosterage (Riḍāʿah)
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Pg. 739
Hindah and Fareedah are two real sisters. Hindah has a son who is being breastfed, and Fareedah has a daughter who is also breastfeeding. One day, while Hindah is out for errands, Fareedah breastfeeds Hindah’s son.
This act causes Hindah’s son and Fareedah’s daughter to become milk-siblings (raḍāʿī brother and sister).
Later, Fareedah’s daughter (the foster sister) passes away. Subsequently, Fareedah gives birth to another daughter.
The question is:
Can Hindah’s son (who was breastfed by Fareedah) marry this second daughter of Fareedah?
Please issue a verdict based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
In the given situation, it is clear that Fareedah breastfed Hindah’s son, making her his foster mother (raḍāʿī mother).
As a result, all daughters of Fareedah become his foster sisters (raḍāʿī sisters), regardless of whether they were breastfed or not, or whether they were born before or after the fosterage occurred.
﴿وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ﴾
“…and your milk-sisters are also forbidden to you (for marriage).”
(Surah al-Nisāʾ: 23)
This verse makes it clear that foster sisters are just as unlawful for marriage as biological sisters.
"يَحْرُمُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ النَّسَبِ"
“Whatever is prohibited through lineage is also prohibited through breastfeeding.”
(Authentic Hadith in various collections)
Thus, all the relationships that are unlawful by blood become unlawful through valid riḍāʿah (fosterage) as well.
☑ Since Fareedah breastfed Hindah’s son, she became his foster mother.
☑ Therefore, all of Fareedah’s daughters — past, present, or future — are his milk-sisters.
☑ As such, Hindah’s son cannot marry any of Fareedah’s daughters, even if they never nursed from the same woman themselves.
If Hindah has other sons who were never breastfed by Fareedah, then:
✔ They may marry Fareedah’s daughters,
✔ Because no biological or foster relationship exists between them that would prohibit such a marriage.
➊ Fareedah is the foster mother of Hindah’s son.
➋ All of Fareedah’s daughters are his foster sisters.
➌ He may not marry any of them.
➍ Other sons of Hindah (not breastfed by Fareedah) may marry Fareedah’s daughters.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, Pg. 739❖ Question:
Hindah and Fareedah are two real sisters. Hindah has a son who is being breastfed, and Fareedah has a daughter who is also breastfeeding. One day, while Hindah is out for errands, Fareedah breastfeeds Hindah’s son.
This act causes Hindah’s son and Fareedah’s daughter to become milk-siblings (raḍāʿī brother and sister).
Later, Fareedah’s daughter (the foster sister) passes away. Subsequently, Fareedah gives birth to another daughter.
The question is:
Can Hindah’s son (who was breastfed by Fareedah) marry this second daughter of Fareedah?
Please issue a verdict based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
In the given situation, it is clear that Fareedah breastfed Hindah’s son, making her his foster mother (raḍāʿī mother).
As a result, all daughters of Fareedah become his foster sisters (raḍāʿī sisters), regardless of whether they were breastfed or not, or whether they were born before or after the fosterage occurred.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence:
﴿وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ﴾
“…and your milk-sisters are also forbidden to you (for marriage).”
(Surah al-Nisāʾ: 23)This verse makes it clear that foster sisters are just as unlawful for marriage as biological sisters.
❖ Hadith Evidence:
"يَحْرُمُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ النَّسَبِ"
“Whatever is prohibited through lineage is also prohibited through breastfeeding.”
(Authentic Hadith in various collections)Thus, all the relationships that are unlawful by blood become unlawful through valid riḍāʿah (fosterage) as well.
Ruling:
☑ Since Fareedah breastfed Hindah’s son, she became his foster mother.
☑ Therefore, all of Fareedah’s daughters — past, present, or future — are his milk-sisters.
☑ As such, Hindah’s son cannot marry any of Fareedah’s daughters, even if they never nursed from the same woman themselves.
❖ Exception:
If Hindah has other sons who were never breastfed by Fareedah, then:
✔ They may marry Fareedah’s daughters,
✔ Because no biological or foster relationship exists between them that would prohibit such a marriage.
Final Summary:
➊ Fareedah is the foster mother of Hindah’s son.
➋ All of Fareedah’s daughters are his foster sisters.
➌ He may not marry any of them.
➍ Other sons of Hindah (not breastfed by Fareedah) may marry Fareedah’s daughters.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
