ONE HADITH A DAY

Breastfeeding produces the same interdiction that childbirth produces

Agreed upon · Authentic

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الرَّضَاعَةُ تُحَرِّمُ مَا تُحَرِّمُ الوِلَادَةُ».

“‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Breastfeeding produces the same interdiction that childbirth produces."”

Explanation

The Prophet (ﷺ) pointed out that breastfeeding produces the same interdiction as produced by childbirth and blood relationships, like the maternal or paternal uncle or brother, and it permits the same rulings permitted due to childbirth.

Benefits

• The Hadīth represents a principle for the rulings related to breastfeeding.
• Ibn Hajar said: His statement: (Breastfeeding produces the same interdiction that childbirth produces), i.e., it gives the same permissibility that childbirth gives. This is held by consensus concerning the prohibition of marriage and its consequences, the spread of prohibition between the infant and the children of the breastfeeding woman, and treating them like relatives in terms of the permissibility of looking, seclusion, and traveling. But this does not entail the rest of the rulings of motherhood, such as inheritance, the obligation of spending, emancipation through ownership, testimony, financial legal liability, and the revocation of legal retribution.
• It establishes the ruling of permanent prohibition of marriage on account of breastfeeding.
• Other Hadīths indicate that the prohibition of breastfeeding is established by five known sucklings, and that they should be in the first two years.
• Women prohibited on account of marriage are: mothers, including grandmothers, and even their ascendants on the father's or mother's side. Daughters, including the daughters of daughters and the daughters of sons, and their descendants. Sisters, whether they are full sisters or half-sisters from the father's or mother's side. Paternal aunts, including all sisters of the father, whether they are full sisters or half-sisters, and also all sisters of grandfathers and their ascendants. Maternal aunts, including all sisters of the mother, whether they are full sisters or half-sisters, and also all sisters of grandmothers and their ascendants, whether they are grandmothers from the father's or mother's side. Daughters of the brother and daughters of the sister, including their daughters and their descendants.
• Women who are prohibited due to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding prohibits what is prohibited by marriage. So, the like of every woman who is prohibited by marriage is also prohibited by breastfeeding, except for the mother of his brother and the sister of his son by breastfeeding—they are not prohibited.

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