Salim has attained (purbety) as men attain, and he understands what they understand, and he enters our house freely, I, however, perceive that something (rankles) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa, whereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said to her: Suckle him and you would become unlawful for him, and (the rankling) which Abu Hudhaifa feels in his heart will disappear. She returned and said: So I suckled him, and what (was there) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa disappeared.
The Book of Suckling - Sahih Muslim 1453 b
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari concerns the legal ruling regarding radāʿ (suckling) and its effect on establishing mahram relationships. The incident involves Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, who was raised in their household and had reached maturity.
Context and Circumstances
Salim had attained physical maturity and understanding like other men, yet he enjoyed unrestricted access to Abu Hudhaifa's household. This situation caused discomfort in Abu Hudhaifa's heart due to the potential for unlawful mixing between non-mahram individuals.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) recognized the spiritual and social concern and provided a solution through the established Islamic principle that suckling creates the same mahram relationships as blood ties.
Legal Ruling and Wisdom
The Prophet's instruction to suckle Salim demonstrates that radāʿ establishes permanent mahram relationships, making marriage impermissible between the suckled individual and the suckling woman's relatives.
This ruling resolved the issue completely, as evidenced by the disappearance of discomfort from Abu Hudhaifa's heart after the suckling occurred. The wisdom behind this ruling preserves family honor and prevents potential fitnah (temptation) in household interactions.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this hadith establishes that radāʿ must occur before weaning (typically before two years of age) to create mahram relationships. The ruling applies regardless of whether the suckled person is an infant or adult at the time of suckling.
This incident illustrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic law in addressing social concerns while maintaining the boundaries set by Allah. The solution provided by the Prophet (ﷺ) preserved family harmony while upholding Islamic principles of modesty and proper interaction between non-mahram individuals.