The Book of Suckling - Sahih Muslim 1444b

"What becomes unlawful through breastfeeding is that which becomes unlawful through birth."

Meaning and Explanation

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental principle that breastfeeding creates the same permanent prohibitions in marriage as blood relations. Just as certain relatives are permanently forbidden to marry due to blood ties, the same restrictions apply through established breastfeeding relationships.

The milk kinship established through valid breastfeeding (five known feedings or more according to the soundest opinion) creates permanent mahram relationships. This includes prohibition of marriage between the nursing child and the wet nurse, her husband, her children, and other relatives in the same manner as blood relations.

Legal Implications

Through this ruling, the nursing child becomes like a biological child to the wet nurse, making her permanently unlawful for him to marry. Similarly, her daughters become like his biological sisters, and her sisters become like his maternal aunts.

The wisdom behind this legislation preserves family honor, prevents confusion of lineages, and maintains the sanctity of family relationships. It ensures that those raised together through this intimate bond do not later become marriage partners, thus protecting the purity of familial connections.

Scholarly Consensus

This ruling is established by consensus among the scholars of Islam based on clear texts from the Quran and Sunnah. The prohibition applies regardless of whether the breastfeeding occurred in infancy or later childhood, provided it meets the conditions established in Islamic jurisprudence.

This hadith serves as a foundational text in Islamic family law, providing clear guidance on the formation of lawful and unlawful marriage relationships through the bond of breastfeeding.