17/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1445c — Fosterage Like Blood Relations
The prohibition that results from breastfeeding is related to the issue of the male
Fosterage Like Blood Relations Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 1445c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1445c
وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهُ، جَاءَ أَفْلَحُ أَخُو أَبِي الْقُعَيْسِ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَيْهَا بَعْدَ مَا نَزَلَ الْحِجَابُ - وَكَانَ أَبُو الْقُعَيْسِ أَبَا عَائِشَةَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ - قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ آذَنُ لأَفْلَحَ حَتَّى أَسْتَأْذِنَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِنَّ أَبَا الْقُعَيْسِ لَيْسَ هُوَ أَرْضَعَنِي وَلَكِنْ أَرْضَعَتْنِي امْرَأَتُهُ - قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ - فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَفْلَحَ أَخَا أَبِي الْقُعَيْسِ جَاءَنِي يَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَىَّ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ آذَنَ لَهُ حَتَّى أَسْتَأْذِنَكَ - قَالَتْ - فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ائْذَنِي لَهُ " . قَالَ عُرْوَةُ فَبِذَلِكَ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تَقُولُ حَرِّمُوا مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا تُحَرِّمُونَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
There came Aflah the brother, of Abu'l-Qu'ais, who sought her permission (to enter) after seclusion was instituted, and AbuQu'ais was the father of 'A'isha by reason of fosterage. 'A'isha said: By Allah, I would not permit Aflah unless I have solicited the opinion of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for Abu Qulais has not suckled me, but his wife has given me suck.'A'isha' (Allah be pleased with her) said: When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) entered, I said: Allah's Messenger, Aflah is the brother of Abu'l-Qulais; he came to me to seek my permission for entering (the house). I did not like the idea of granting him permission until I had solicited your opinion. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: Grant him permission. 'Urwa said it was on account of this that 'A'isha used to say. What is unlawful by reason of consanguinity is unlawful by reason of fosterage.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1445cIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3399
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1445c
This fosterage like blood relations hadith gives the story in fuller detail. Aflah, the brother of Abu'l-Qulais, sought permission to enter after Hijab had been revealed. Abu'l-Qulais was A'isha's foster father, but A'isha hesitated because he himself had not suckled her; rather, his wife had. She chose not to permit Aflah until she asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told her to grant him permission. The narration then mentions that A'isha used to state the rule: what is unlawful by blood relation is unlawful by fosterage. The hadith teaches careful privacy, careful questioning, and acceptance of a clear rule when it is explained.
What we learn from this hadith
- A'isha waited for guidance before acting in a sensitive family matter.
- Fosterage can carry family limits similar to blood relations.
- The hadith connects practical permission with a broad fosterage rule.
