Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amn Pūrī
When is Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding relationship) established in Islamic law?
The duration of Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding) is two years, and if a child is breastfed five or more times within this period, the relationship of Riḍāʿah is established.
① Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**
لا تُحرِمُ المصَّةُ ولا المصَّتانِ
**
“One or two sucklings do not establish prohibition (through Riḍāʿah).”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1450
② Another narration states:
**
لا تُحرِمُ الإملاجةُ والإملاجتانِ
**
“One or two insertions (of the breast into the mouth) do not establish prohibition (through breastfeeding).”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1451
③ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ came to me while a man was sitting with me. He asked, “Who is this?” I replied, “This is my foster brother (from breastfeeding).”
He ﷺ said:
“Be cautious in recognizing who your brothers are, for Riḍāʿah is only established when milk is the child’s main source of nourishment.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2647, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1455
④ Umm Faḍl رضي الله عنها narrated:
A man from Banū ʿĀmir bin Ṣaʿṣaʿah asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Is one suckling sufficient to establish prohibition?”
He ﷺ replied:
“No.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1451
⑤ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“At first, it was revealed in the Qur’ān that ten sucklings establish Riḍāʿah. Then, it was abrogated and replaced with the command that five sucklings establish it. This remained in recitation of the Qur’ān until shortly before the Prophet’s ﷺ demise.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1452
This ḥadīth clearly shows that if a child suckles fewer than five times, the bond of Riḍāʿah is not established.
⑥ This is further supported by the narration regarding Sahlah bint Suhayl, the wife of Abū Ḥudhayfah, when the Prophet ﷺ said:
**
أرضعيه خمس رضعات، فكان بمنزلةِ وَلَدِهَا من الرَّضاعَةِ
**
“Breastfeed him five times, and he will be like your son through breastfeeding.”
Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik: 2/605; origin in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5088; Musnad Aḥmad: 6/201, 271
✦ The period of Riḍāʿah is two years.
✦ The relationship of milk kinship is only established after five or more feedings during this period.
✦ One or two feedings do not establish the bond of Riḍāʿah.
✦ This is based on the statements of the Prophet ﷺ and the understanding of his noble companions.
✿ Question:
When is Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding relationship) established in Islamic law?
✿ Answer:
The duration of Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding) is two years, and if a child is breastfed five or more times within this period, the relationship of Riḍāʿah is established.
❀ Evidences from Aḥādīth:
① Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
**
لا تُحرِمُ المصَّةُ ولا المصَّتانِ
**
“One or two sucklings do not establish prohibition (through Riḍāʿah).”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1450② Another narration states:
**
لا تُحرِمُ الإملاجةُ والإملاجتانِ
**
“One or two insertions (of the breast into the mouth) do not establish prohibition (through breastfeeding).”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1451③ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ came to me while a man was sitting with me. He asked, “Who is this?” I replied, “This is my foster brother (from breastfeeding).”
He ﷺ said:
“Be cautious in recognizing who your brothers are, for Riḍāʿah is only established when milk is the child’s main source of nourishment.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2647, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1455④ Umm Faḍl رضي الله عنها narrated:
A man from Banū ʿĀmir bin Ṣaʿṣaʿah asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Is one suckling sufficient to establish prohibition?”
He ﷺ replied:
“No.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1451⑤ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“At first, it was revealed in the Qur’ān that ten sucklings establish Riḍāʿah. Then, it was abrogated and replaced with the command that five sucklings establish it. This remained in recitation of the Qur’ān until shortly before the Prophet’s ﷺ demise.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1452This ḥadīth clearly shows that if a child suckles fewer than five times, the bond of Riḍāʿah is not established.
⑥ This is further supported by the narration regarding Sahlah bint Suhayl, the wife of Abū Ḥudhayfah, when the Prophet ﷺ said:
**
أرضعيه خمس رضعات، فكان بمنزلةِ وَلَدِهَا من الرَّضاعَةِ
**
“Breastfeed him five times, and he will be like your son through breastfeeding.”
Al-Muwaṭṭa’ of Imām Mālik: 2/605; origin in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5088; Musnad Aḥmad: 6/201, 271✔ Summary:
✦ The period of Riḍāʿah is two years.
✦ The relationship of milk kinship is only established after five or more feedings during this period.
✦ One or two feedings do not establish the bond of Riḍāʿah.
✦ This is based on the statements of the Prophet ﷺ and the understanding of his noble companions.
