"Sahlah bint Suhail came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'I see (displeasure) in the face of Abu Hudhaifah when Salim enters upon me.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Breast-feed him.' She said: 'How can I breast-feed him when he is a grown man?' He said: 'Don't I know that he is a grown man?' Then she came after that and said: 'By the One Who sent you with the truth as a Prophet, I have never seen anything I dislike on the face of Abu Hudhaifah after that.'"
The Book of Marriage - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3320
A commentary from the perspective of classical Islamic scholarship on the hadith concerning fosterage through adult breastfeeding.
Contextual Analysis
This incident occurred when Sahlah bint Suhail, wife of Abu Hudhaifah, expressed concern about her husband's discomfort with Salim (their adopted son) entering her private quarters. In pre-Islamic Arabia, adopted sons were treated as biological sons, creating restrictions on interaction.
The Prophet's instruction for breastfeeding establishes a legal relationship of fosterage (radāʿah), making Salim her foster son and thus a mahram (unmarriageable relative), eliminating the need for strict segregation.
Juridical Ruling
Classical scholars like Imam ash-Shafi'i and Imam Malik considered this a specific dispensation (rukhas) applicable only to this situation, not establishing general permissibility of adult breastfeeding.
The majority position holds that fosterage only occurs through breastfeeding during the first two years of life, as established in Quranic verses and other prophetic traditions.
Scholarly Interpretation
Imam an-Nawawi explained this was a unique solution to resolve household tension and maintain family harmony, not to be taken as general legislation.
The Prophet's rhetorical question "Don't I know that he is a grown man?" indicates his awareness of the unusual nature of this ruling, emphasizing its exceptional circumstances.
Outcome and Wisdom
Sahlah's subsequent testimony confirms the effectiveness of this solution, as Abu Hudhaifah's displeasure completely disappeared, demonstrating the Prophet's practical wisdom in resolving delicate family matters.
This incident illustrates the flexibility of Islamic law in addressing unique social circumstances while maintaining the objectives of preserving modesty and family harmony.