"Sahlah came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Salim enters upon us and he understands what men understand, and knows what men know.' He said: 'Breast-feed him, and you will become unlawful to him thereby.' (Ibn Abi Mulaikah, one of the narrators said:) For a year I did not narrate this, then I met Al-Qasim and he said: 'Narrate it and do not worry about it.'"
Hadith Commentary: The Case of Salim's Fosterage
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i (3322) presents a significant legal ruling concerning fosterage (radāʿ) and its effect on establishing mahram relationships. When Sahlah reported that Salim, who was living in their household, had reached physical maturity and could perceive women's attractiveness, the Prophet prescribed breastfeeding as a solution.
From a classical Islamic legal perspective, this hadith establishes that breastfeeding an adult male can create the same prohibition in marriage as breastfeeding an infant. The wisdom behind this ruling protects household privacy and prevents potential temptation when unrelated adults cohabitate.
The narrator's initial hesitation for one year reflects the companions' caution in transmitting religious knowledge, especially regarding sensitive matters. Only after consulting Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (a renowned scholar from the tabi'in generation) did he feel confident to narrate it, demonstrating the rigorous verification process in hadith transmission.
Scholars note this ruling applies specifically to exceptional circumstances where conventional solutions are impractical. The majority position requires breastfeeding to occur during the first two years of life to establish mahram relationship, though some scholars reference this hadith for limited exceptional cases.