67/118. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5239 — Foster Relations and Hijab
Visiting or looking at women having foster suckling reltions
Foster Relations in Islam: What Suckling Makes Unlawful
Sahih Bukhari : 5239
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5239
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ جَاءَ عَمِّي مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَىَّ فَأَبَيْتُ أَنْ آذَنَ لَهُ حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ عَمُّكِ فَأْذَنِي لَهُ " قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا أَرْضَعَتْنِي الْمَرْأَةُ وَلَمْ يُرْضِعْنِي الرَّجُلُ. قَالَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّهُ عَمُّكِ فَلْيَلِجْ عَلَيْكِ ". قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ ضُرِبَ عَلَيْنَا الْحِجَابُ. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ الْوِلاَدَةِ.
A'isha Narrated from:
My foster uncle came and asked permission (to enter) but I refused to admit him till I asked Allah's Apostle about that. He said, "He is your uncle, so allow him to come in." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! I have been suckled by a woman and not by a man." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "He is your uncle, so let him enter upon you." And that happened after the order of Al-Hijab (compulsory veiling) was revealed. All things which become unlawful because of blood relations are unlawful because of the corresponding foster suckling relations.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5239In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 172USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 166
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5239
This hadith explains an important point about foster relations. Aisha said that her foster uncle came and asked permission to enter, but she refused until she could ask the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). When she asked him, he said that he was her uncle and told her to allow him to enter. Aisha said that a woman had suckled her, not the man. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) repeated that he was her uncle and should enter upon her. Aisha added that this happened after the order of Hijab had been revealed. She then stated that what becomes unlawful through blood relations also becomes unlawful through corresponding foster suckling relations. This hadith about foster relations teaches carefulness, asking before acting, and the legal effect of suckling ties.
What we learn from this hadith
- Aisha asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) before allowing entry.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) confirmed that the foster uncle could enter upon her.
- The event happened after the order of Hijab was revealed.
- Foster suckling relations make unlawful what corresponding blood relations make unlawful.
