Author: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
Sharʿī definition: A child sucking milk directly from a woman’s breast during the specified period.
(Anīn al-Fuqahāʾ, p. 152; al-Durar, 1/355)
One feeding (raḍʿah): When a child latches onto the breast and sucks milk, then releases it voluntarily without any obstruction — this counts as one raḍʿah.
If the child stops briefly for breathing, rest, or minor distraction but quickly resumes, it is still counted as one feeding. This is the position of Imām al-Shāfiʿī and aligns with linguistic usage.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, 4/412; Subul al-Salām, 3/1529)
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“In the Qurʾān, it was revealed that ten known feedings make marriage unlawful. Then it was abrogated to five known feedings. The Prophet ﷺ passed away while these five feedings were still being recited in the Qurʾān.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1452; Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik, 2/608; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2062; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 1150; al-Nasāʾī, 6/100; Ibn Ḥibbān, 4207)
Ḥadīth of Sahlah bint Suhayl رضي الله عنها:
“She breastfed Sālim five times, and he became like her son.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd, 1815; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2061)
Also narrated from: ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, ʿĀʾishah, ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr, ʿAṭāʾ, al-Ṭāwūs, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, ʿUrwah, al-Layth ibn Saʿd, and a narration from Imām Aḥmad.
Evidence for three feedings:
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“One or two sucklings do not make (marriage) unlawful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1450; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2063; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 1150; Sunan Ibn Mājah, 1940)
The “three feedings” opinion is inferred by opposite meaning (mafhum mukhālafah), but this is not stronger than explicit wording of the five-feedings ḥadīth.
The majority cite:
﴿ وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ اللَّاتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ ﴾
“…your mothers who breastfed you…” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, 4:23)
They consider this general, not restricted by solitary reports (khabar wāḥid). But the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها is specific and authentic, and in uṣūl it is obligatory to restrict the general by the specific, even if the latter is khabar wāḥid.
Ḥadīth of Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها:
“Only breastfeeding that fills the stomach and occurs before weaning makes (marriage) unlawful.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1152; al-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā, 3/301; Ibn Ḥibbān, 1250 – authentic)
Ḥadīth of Jābir رضي الله عنه:
“There is no breastfeeding after weaning, and no one is considered an orphan after puberty.”
(Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl, 1244 – ḥasan)
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
“No breastfeeding is valid except within two years.”
(al-Dāraquṭnī, 4/173; al-Bayhaqī, 7/442)
The stronger opinion — supported by the most authentic ḥadīth — is that five confirmed feedings within the first two years are required to establish the ḥurmah (prohibition) of marriage through breastfeeding.
1. Linguistic Explanation
- Raḍāʿ or Riḍāʿah (رضاع/رضاعة) comes from the root raḍiʿa (رَضِعَ), meaning to drink milk.
- From the form arḍaʿa (أرضع), it means to give milk.
(Lisān al-ʿArab, 8/125; al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ, 3/30; al-Munjid, p. 295)
Sharʿī definition: A child sucking milk directly from a woman’s breast during the specified period.
(Anīn al-Fuqahāʾ, p. 152; al-Durar, 1/355)
One feeding (raḍʿah): When a child latches onto the breast and sucks milk, then releases it voluntarily without any obstruction — this counts as one raḍʿah.
If the child stops briefly for breathing, rest, or minor distraction but quickly resumes, it is still counted as one feeding. This is the position of Imām al-Shāfiʿī and aligns with linguistic usage.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, 4/412; Subul al-Salām, 3/1529)
2. Evidence for Five Feedings Requirement
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“In the Qurʾān, it was revealed that ten known feedings make marriage unlawful. Then it was abrogated to five known feedings. The Prophet ﷺ passed away while these five feedings were still being recited in the Qurʾān.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1452; Muwaṭṭaʾ Mālik, 2/608; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2062; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 1150; al-Nasāʾī, 6/100; Ibn Ḥibbān, 4207)
Ḥadīth of Sahlah bint Suhayl رضي الله عنها:
“She breastfed Sālim five times, and he became like her son.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd, 1815; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2061)
3. Scholars Supporting This View
- Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (Fatāwā al-Nisāʾ, p. 471)
- al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله (after Ḥadīth 1150)
- al-Amīr al-Ṣanʿānī رحمه الله (Subul al-Salām, 3/1529)
- Ibn Ḥazm رحمه الله (al-Muḥallā, 10/189)
- Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān رحمه الله (al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah, 2/174)
Also narrated from: ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd, ʿĀʾishah, ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr, ʿAṭāʾ, al-Ṭāwūs, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, ʿUrwah, al-Layth ibn Saʿd, and a narration from Imām Aḥmad.
4. Other Views
- Majority (Abū Ḥanīfah, Mālik): Any amount — even one feeding — establishes prohibition.
- Some (Isḥāq, Abū ʿUbaydah, Abū Thawr, Ibn al-Mundhir): Three feedings are enough; also a narration from Aḥmad.
Evidence for three feedings:
Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“One or two sucklings do not make (marriage) unlawful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1450; Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 2063; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, 1150; Sunan Ibn Mājah, 1940)
The “three feedings” opinion is inferred by opposite meaning (mafhum mukhālafah), but this is not stronger than explicit wording of the five-feedings ḥadīth.
5. Qurʾānic Proof and Generalisation
The majority cite:
﴿ وَأُمَّهَاتُكُمُ اللَّاتِي أَرْضَعْنَكُمْ ﴾
“…your mothers who breastfed you…” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, 4:23)
They consider this general, not restricted by solitary reports (khabar wāḥid). But the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها is specific and authentic, and in uṣūl it is obligatory to restrict the general by the specific, even if the latter is khabar wāḥid.
6. Condition for Validity of Breastfeeding
- Milk must be present and consumed with certainty.
- Child must be under two years old.
Ḥadīth of Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها:
“Only breastfeeding that fills the stomach and occurs before weaning makes (marriage) unlawful.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 1152; al-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā, 3/301; Ibn Ḥibbān, 1250 – authentic)
Ḥadīth of Jābir رضي الله عنه:
“There is no breastfeeding after weaning, and no one is considered an orphan after puberty.”
(Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl, 1244 – ḥasan)
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
“No breastfeeding is valid except within two years.”
(al-Dāraquṭnī, 4/173; al-Bayhaqī, 7/442)
7. Duration of Breastfeeding Period
- Shāfiʿī, Mālik, Abū Yūsuf, Muḥammad: Two years — the view of most Companions including ʿUmar, Ibn ʿAbbās, Ibn Masʿūd, ʿAlī, Abū Hurayrah, ʿĀʾishah, and all Mothers of the Believers.
- Abū Ḥanīfah: Two and a half years (arguing from Sūrat al-Aḥqāf, 46:15 — but this includes 6 months of minimum pregnancy plus two years nursing).
8. Preferred (Rājiḥ) View
The stronger opinion — supported by the most authentic ḥadīth — is that five confirmed feedings within the first two years are required to establish the ḥurmah (prohibition) of marriage through breastfeeding.
