Chapter 13-Rida' (Becoming Unmarriageable Kin By Suckling)

1168. 'A'ishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, ''One or two sucklings would not make marriage unlawful." Related by Muslim.






1169. 'A'ishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said. "Be sure as to who your foster brothers are, for the foster (suckling) relationship is confirmed when milk is still the essential food for the child (the only food that satisfies his hunger)." Agreed upon.






1170. 'A'ishah narrated that Sahlah bint Suhail came and said, '0 Messenger of Allah! Salim the client of Abu Hudhaifah lives with us in the same house, and he has now reached puberty.' The Messenger of Allah said to her, "Suckle him so that be may become unlawful (in regard to marriage) for you.''(331) Related by Muslim.

331. Scholars are of the opinion that this Hadith is not a common ruling, as it is only infants who are normally breastfed. In this case, the Messengerof Allah meant that she may give him some or her milk (in a cup) and thus she would foster him, and not actually suckle him as he is a grown man and she cannot uncover in front of him. But the majority of scholars are of the opinion that fosterage only applies to infants within the first two years.






1171. 'A'ishah narrated that Aflah the brother of Abu al-Qu'ais (Aflah is her foster uncle) came and asked for permission to enter upon her after the verse of the Hijab (the veiling of women) was revealed. A'ishah added, 'But I refused to let him in. When the Messenger of Allah came, I told him what happened, so he commanded me to give him permission to come into my presence and said, "He is your uncle," Agreed upon.






1172. 'A'ishah narrated, 'It had been revealed in the Holy Qur'an that ten (definitely) known sucklings make the marriage unlawful, but that was abrogated (and substituted) by five known sucklings. When the Messenger of Allah died, they were still read (their recitation was finally abrogated from the Qur'an before his death, but the ruling still applies)." Related by Muslim.






1173. Ibn 'Abbas narrated, 'The Messenger of Allah was asked to marry the daughter of Hamzah (his cousin and foster brother), he said. "She is unlawful for me as she is the daughter of my foster brother. What is unlawful due to blood relations, is also unlawful due to Rida'ah (suckling)." Agreed upon.






1174. Umm Salarnah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "The only suckling which makes marriage unlawful is that which is absorbed in the bowels and was before the time of weaning." Related by At-Tirmidhi. He and al-Hakim graded it as Sahih.






1175. Ibn 'Abbas narrated, 'Rida' (suckling) only applies to infants during the first two years of age.' Related by Ad-Daraqutni and Ibn' Adi.






1176. Ibn Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "The only suckling which makes marriage unlawful is that which strengthens the bones and lets the flesh grow!' Related by Abu Dawud.







1177. 'Uqbah bint Al-Harith narrated that he married Umm Yehia bint Abi Ihab. A woman came along and said, I suckled both of you.' 'Uqbah then asked the Messenger of Allah who said to him, "How can you hesitate (about separating from her), after you have been told (that you were suckled from the same woman)?" Uqbah then separated from her and she married another man. Related by Al-Bukhari.






1178. Ziad As-Sahmi narrated, 'The Messenger of Allah prohibited that a foolish woman be asked to suckle an infant. (332) Related by Abu Dawud. It is a Hadith Mursal and Ziad is not a Companion.

332. Scholars say that the wisdom behind this prohibition could be that bad character may be inherited. so it is better to choose one with fine qualities.