❖ Rulings of Riḍāʿah (Breastfeeding) and Validity of Nikāḥ ❖
Answer by: Fadhīlat al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir حفظه الله
A boy was breastfed 2 or 3 times by his maternal grandmother at the time of his birth. Later, he married his maternal uncle's daughter (i.e., the granddaughter of that same woman). Some people objected at the time of rukhsati, claiming the marriage is invalid. Is this Nikāḥ valid? A written fatwa is requested.
According to the fatwā of our Salafī scholars:
① Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding) is only established when the child has suckled five full times to satisfaction.
② The effect of Riḍāʿah—which includes prohibition of marriage—only applies when the child is under two years of age at the time of breastfeeding.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا تُحَرِّمُ الْمَصَّةُ وَالْمَصَّتَانِ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 3590]
Translation:
“One or two sips of breastfeeding do not make marriage unlawful.”
✔ Since the child was breastfed only 2 or 3 times, this does not establish riḍāʿah-based kinship.
✔ Therefore, this marriage is valid, and the objections raised are unfounded.
Answer by: Fadhīlat al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir حفظه الله
❖ Question:
A boy was breastfed 2 or 3 times by his maternal grandmother at the time of his birth. Later, he married his maternal uncle's daughter (i.e., the granddaughter of that same woman). Some people objected at the time of rukhsati, claiming the marriage is invalid. Is this Nikāḥ valid? A written fatwa is requested.
❖ Answer:
According to the fatwā of our Salafī scholars:
① Riḍāʿah (breastfeeding) is only established when the child has suckled five full times to satisfaction.
② The effect of Riḍāʿah—which includes prohibition of marriage—only applies when the child is under two years of age at the time of breastfeeding.
✿ Prophetic Hadith:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا تُحَرِّمُ الْمَصَّةُ وَالْمَصَّتَانِ"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 3590]
Translation:
“One or two sips of breastfeeding do not make marriage unlawful.”
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Since the child was breastfed only 2 or 3 times, this does not establish riḍāʿah-based kinship.
✔ Therefore, this marriage is valid, and the objections raised are unfounded.
