Author: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
It is permissible, in cases of necessity, to breastfeed a grown man — even one with a beard — so that it becomes lawful for a woman to be in his presence without hijāb.
Narration of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
Sahlah bint Suhayl رضي الله عنها came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“Sālim, the freed slave of Abū Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه, lives in our house. He has reached the age of manhood.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أرضعيه تحرمي عليه»
“Breastfeed him, and he will become unlawful (maḥram) for you.”
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd it is mentioned that after this instruction, Sahlah رضي الله عنها breastfed Sālim five times, and he became like her child.
References:
This proves that in times of need, breastfeeding an adult man can establish ḥurmah (prohibition of marriage). This was the view of ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها, ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, Imām ʿAṭāʾ, Imām al-Layth, Imām Dāwūd, and Imām Ibn Ḥazm.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, 4/417; Sharḥ Muslim, 5/289; al-Istidhkār, 18/273; al-Muḥallā, 10/202)
The majority hold that ḥurmah through breastfeeding is established only if it occurs before two lunar years of age. They base this on:
They also cite the Prophet ﷺ’s statement:
«إنما الرضاعة من المجاعة»
“Breastfeeding is only (considered) when it occurs in infancy.”
(Aʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 4/346)
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله stated:
The standard rule for breastfeeding is that it applies in infancy, except when a need arises — such as an adult man who must be in regular presence of a woman and for whom maintaining hijāb is difficult. In such a case, as with Sahlah and Sālim, breastfeeding will establish ḥurmah. In all other cases, the duration remains limited to infancy.
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 34/60)
This was also the view of Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (Aʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 4/346), endorsed by al-Amīr al-Ṣanʿānī (Subul al-Salām, 3/1533) and Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān رحمه الله (al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah, 2/180).
Summary:
Evidence from the Sunnah
It is permissible, in cases of necessity, to breastfeed a grown man — even one with a beard — so that it becomes lawful for a woman to be in his presence without hijāb.
Narration of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
Sahlah bint Suhayl رضي الله عنها came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
“Sālim, the freed slave of Abū Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه, lives in our house. He has reached the age of manhood.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أرضعيه تحرمي عليه»
“Breastfeed him, and he will become unlawful (maḥram) for you.”
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd it is mentioned that after this instruction, Sahlah رضي الله عنها breastfed Sālim five times, and he became like her child.
References:
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (1453, Kitāb al-Raḍāʿ, Bāb Riḍāʿat al-Kabīr)
- Musnad Aḥmad (6/38)
- al-Ḥumaydī (287)
- Sunan Ibn Mājah (1943)
- Sunan al-Nasāʾī (6/104)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (5088)
- al-Bayhaqī (7/459)
- Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd (1815)
- Abū Dāwūd (2061)
This proves that in times of need, breastfeeding an adult man can establish ḥurmah (prohibition of marriage). This was the view of ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها, ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, Imām ʿAṭāʾ, Imām al-Layth, Imām Dāwūd, and Imām Ibn Ḥazm.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, 4/417; Sharḥ Muslim, 5/289; al-Istidhkār, 18/273; al-Muḥallā, 10/202)
View of the Majority (Jumhūr)
The majority hold that ḥurmah through breastfeeding is established only if it occurs before two lunar years of age. They base this on:
- Numerous aḥādīth limiting breastfeeding to the first two years.
- All the Mothers of the Believers except ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها held this view.
- It is the more cautious approach.
- In adulthood, breastfeeding does not contribute to the flesh and bones — the reason for ḥurmah mentioned in ḥadīth.
- The case of Sālim may have been specific to him.
They also cite the Prophet ﷺ’s statement:
«إنما الرضاعة من المجاعة»
“Breastfeeding is only (considered) when it occurs in infancy.”
(Aʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 4/346)
Response to the Majority’s Arguments
- A single authentic ḥadīth is sufficient proof in Sharīʿah, even if it is solitary in occurrence.
- The differing view of the other Mothers of the Believers was their ijtihād and does not override an explicit text.
- Caution (iḥtiyāṭ) does not prove prohibition.
- Although adult breastfeeding does not physically nourish, the Prophet ﷺ still allowed it in Sahlah’s case.
- Limiting it to Sālim alone requires clear evidence.
- While the general ruling is for infancy, Sahlah’s ḥadīth provides an exception in cases of genuine need.
The Preferred (Rājiḥ) View
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله stated:
The standard rule for breastfeeding is that it applies in infancy, except when a need arises — such as an adult man who must be in regular presence of a woman and for whom maintaining hijāb is difficult. In such a case, as with Sahlah and Sālim, breastfeeding will establish ḥurmah. In all other cases, the duration remains limited to infancy.
(Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 34/60)
This was also the view of Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (Aʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 4/346), endorsed by al-Amīr al-Ṣanʿānī (Subul al-Salām, 3/1533) and Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān رحمه الله (al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah, 2/180).
Summary:
- General rule: Breastfeeding establishes ḥurmah only if done before two years of age.
- Exception: In cases of necessity (as in Sālim’s case), breastfeeding an adult man can make him a maḥram.
- This is the balanced view combining the evidences and the exception allowed by the Prophet ﷺ.
