Ruling on Breastfeeding: Marriage After Drinking Milk From Grandmother
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, p. 451
❀ Question
The scholars and jurists were asked:
A man named ʿĀshiq Ḥusain drank the milk of his grandmother during infancy, when milk was his food, and the amount was more than ten feedings (ʿashr riḍāʿāt). Moreover, that milk came to his grandmother in an unnatural manner. The question is: According to Islamic Sharīʿah, can ʿĀshiq Ḥusain marry any daughter of his paternal uncle Muḥammad ʿAlī or not?
❀ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
In this case, ʿĀshiq Ḥusain became a foster son (raḍāʿī brother) of his uncle Muḥammad ʿAlī, and all of Muḥammad ʿAlī’s daughters became foster nieces (raḍāʿī banāt al-akh). Therefore, this relationship is prohibited for him just as blood relations are prohibited. Hence, such a marriage is invalid in Sharīʿah.
❀ Evidences
① Qur’ānic Proof
Allah says:
﴿حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ….وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ﴾ (النساء: 23)
“Forbidden to you are your mothers … and your foster sisters (through suckling).”
② Ḥadīth of the Messenger ﷺ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((الرضاعة تحرم ماتحرم والولادة.))
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
“What becomes prohibited by lineage also becomes prohibited by breastfeeding.”
③ Another Ḥadīth
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((إن الله حرم من الرضاع ما حرم من النسب.))
(Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī – authenticated)
“Indeed Allah has made unlawful through breastfeeding what He has made unlawful through lineage.”
④ Ḥadīth from ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
She reported:
((قالت إن عمهامن الرضاعة إستاذن عليهامحببتة فأخبرت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال لهالاتحببى منه فإنه يحرم من الرضاعة م يحرم من النسب.))
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ)
She said: A foster uncle sought permission to enter upon me, but I disliked it, so I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: “Do not dislike him, for what is prohibited by lineage is also prohibited by breastfeeding.”
❀ Conclusion
From these Qur’ānic verses and Aḥādīth, it is established that such a marriage is invalid. Therefore, this relationship must be annulled, as per the command of Sharīʿah.
❀ Important Note
In Islamic Sharīʿah, the establishment of riḍāʿah (fosterage through breastfeeding) does not depend on whether the milk is natural or unnatural. In both cases, riḍāʿah is established.
ھذا ما عندی واللہ اعلم بالصواب
