The Book of Suckling

كتاب الرضاع

Chapter 11: Detecting relationships from physical features

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) visited me looking pleased as if his face was glistening and said: Did you see that Mujazziz cast a glance at Zaid b. Haritha and Usama b. Zaid, and (then) said: Some (of the features) of their feet are found in the others?

Chapter 2: The prohibition that results from breastfeeding is related to the issue of the male

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters (that 'A'isha said)

There came Aflah, the brother of Abu'l Qulais (Allah be pleased with him), and sought permission from her, the rest of the hadith is the same (except for the words that the Holy Prophet) said:" He is your uncle. Let your hand be besmeared with dust. Abu'l Qulais was the husband of the woman who had suckled 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her).

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of words.

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported

Aflah b. Qu'ais sought permission from me (to enter the house), but I refused to grant him the permission, and he sent me (the message saying): I am your uncle (in the sense) that the wife of my brother has suckled you, (but still) I refused to grant him permission. There came the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I made a mention of it to him, and he said: He can enter (your house), for he is your uncle.

Chapter 3: The daughter of one's brother through breastfeeding is forbidden in marriage

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 4: The prohibition of marriage to one's stepdaughter and the sister of one's wife

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 5: One or Two sucks

Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be'apon him) having said this

One or two sucklings do not make (the marriage) unlawful.

Umm Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a person asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ)

Does one suckling make (the marriage) unlawful? He said: No.

Chapter 7: Breastfeeding an adult

What is meant by breastfeeding here is that the woman empties her milk in a container and sends it to the man to drink it, and this is repeated five times, and thus is forbidden.
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hadhaifa, lived with him and his family in their house. She (i. e. the daughter of Suhail came to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and said

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.

Chapter 10: The child is for the bed and suspicion must be avoided

A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Uyaiyna and Ma'mar (and the words are)

The child is attributed to him on whose bed he is born; but they did not mention this:" For a fornicator there is stoning."

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The child is to be attributed to one on whose bed he is born, and for a fornicator there is stoning.

A hadith like this is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira.

Chapter 13: Dividing one's time among co-wives; The Sunnah is for each one to have one night and one day

Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had nine wives. So when he divided (his stay) with them, the turn of the first wife did not come but on the ninth (day). They (all the wives) used to gather every night in the house of one where he had to come (and stay that night). It was (the night when he had to stay) in the house of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her), when Zainab came there. He (the Holy Prophet) stretched his hand towards her (Zainab), whereupon she ('A'isha) said

It is Zainab. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) withdrew his hand. There was an altercation between the two until their voices became loud (and it was at that time) when Iqama was pronounced for prayer. There happened to come Abu Bakr and he heard their voices and said: Messenger of Allah, (kindly) come for prayer, and throw dust in their mouths. So the Prophet (ﷺ) went out. 'A'isha said: When Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) would finish his prayer there would also come Abu Bakr and he would do as he does (on such occasions, i.e. reprimanding). When Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had finished his prayer, there came to her Abu Bakr, and spoke to her ('A'isha) in stern words and said: Do you behave like this?

Chapter 14: It is permissible for a wife to give her turn to a co-wife

Hisham reported on the authority of his father that 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) used to say

Does the woman not feel shy of offering herself to a man? Then Allah the Exalted and Glorious revealed this verse:" You may defer any of them you wish and take to yourself any you wish." I ('A'isha said): It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire.

Chapter 15: It is recommended to marry one who is religiously committed

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status. her beauty and her religion, so try to get one who is religious, may your hand be besmeared with dust.

Chapter 16: It is recommended to marry virgins

Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me

Jabir, have you married? The rest of the hadith is the same up to (the words):" The woman would look after them and comb them." He (Allah's Messenger), said: You did well. But no mention is made of the subsequent portion.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported

We were with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in an expedition. When we returned I urged my camel to move quickly as it was slow. There met me a rider from behind me and he goaded it with an iron-tipped stick which he had with him. My camel moved forward like the best that you have ever seen. As I turned (my face) I found him to be Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) He said: Jabir, what hastens you? I said: Messenger of Allah, I am newly wedded. whereupon he said: Is it a virgin that you have married or one previously married? I said: With one previously married. He said: Why not a young girl so that you could play with her and she could play with you? Then when we arrived at and were about to enter Medina he said: Wait, so that we may enter by night (i. e. in the evening) in order that the woman with dishevelled hair may comb it, and the woman whose husband had been away may get herself clean; and when you enter (then you have the) enjoyment (of tho wife's company).

Chapter 17: The best temporary joy of this world is a righteous woman

'Abdullah b. Amr reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.

Chapter 18: Advice with regard to women

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you would break it. And if you leave her alone you would benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witnesses any matter he should talk in good terms about it or keep quiet. Act kindly towards woman, for woman is created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, its crookedness will remain there. So act kindly towards women.