«Breastfeeding results in prohibition of whatever is prohibited by blood relationship»
(i) That the child must have drunk from the woman's breast milk five times or more. So if he were to have drunk from the woman's breast milk only four times, then she is not considered a mother to him.
This is based upon what Imaam Muslim transmitted on the authority of 'Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhaa) who said:
«It was revealed in the Qur.aan that drinking from a woman's breast ten times prohibits her to the child; this was then abrogated by five. The Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) then died while this was being recited in the Qur.aan»
(ii) That breastfeeding is done before weaning, that's all the drinking of the breast milk is done five times, before weaning. But, if it is done after the weaning (period) or some of it before weaning and some of it after weaning, then the woman does not become a mother to him.
When the conditions for breast feeding are complete, then the baby becomes a child of the woman and her children become brethren to him, whether they were born before or after him. Similarly, the children of the husband whose child she was breastfeeding at the time become brothers and sisters to him, whether they are from the same woman who has breastfed him or from others.
Here, we should note that the relatives of the bresfed baby other than his offsprings have no relationship with the breasfeeding and it does not affect them at all. Thus, it is permissible for his blood brother to marry his breasfeeding mother or his sister from breastfeeding. But, the children of the baby (who was breastfed) become children of the breasfeeding mother and the husband whose baby she was suckling at the time, (that is) the ruling applies to him too.
The fourth question of Fatwa no. 18401
Q 4: i am a thirty-year-old man. i was breastfed by my paternal grandfather's wife (not my grandmother). This woman is now dead, and we do not know the number of times of breastfeeding. All we know is that she breastfed me. Is it permissible for me to shake hands with my cousins, or my father's nieces? Am I considered their paternal uncle or not? Are they Mahrams (unmarriageable relatives) for me or not? May Allah protect you and reward you.
A: As the number of times of breastfeeding is unknown, you should take precaution and not consider it breastfeeding that prevents marriage, as there is a possibility that its conditions were not met. Thus, the mentioned women are not considered Mahrams for you. As there is also a possibility that its conditions were met, then you had better not marry one of them either. It is known in Shari`ah (Islamic law) that precaution in marriage is observed more carefully than anything else, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Leave what causes you doubt and turn to what does not cause you doubt. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, Those who guard themselves against doubtful things keep their religion and honor blameless.
May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
. According to a fatwa on islam qa, sheikh ibn baaz says that if you were breastfed 5 times in the first two years of your life by another woman, she becomes your mother and all her children become your brothers and sisters. But what if my aunty doesnt remember how many times she fed me? how did the sheikh come to the conclusion that the number of times has to be 5?
