26/53. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3322 — Sahlah and Salim’s Case
Breast-feeding An Adult
Hadith About Sahlah, Salim, and Breastfeeding
Sunan an-Nasai : 3322
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3322
أَخْبَرَنَا حُمَيْدُ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ حَبِيبٍ - عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ جَاءَتْ سَهْلَةُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ سَالِمًا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا وَقَدْ عَقَلَ مَا يَعْقِلُ الرِّجَالُ وَعَلِمَ مَا يَعْلَمُ الرِّجَالُ . قَالَ " أَرْضِعِيهِ تَحْرُمِي عَلَيْهِ بِذَلِكَ " . فَمَكَثْتُ حَوْلاً لاَ أُحَدِّثُ بِهِ وَلَقِيتُ الْقَاسِمَ فَقَالَ حَدِّثْ بِهِ وَلاَ تَهَابُهُ .
A'isha Narrated from:
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.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3322In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 127English translation : Vol. 4, Book 26, Hadith 3324
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3322
This Hadith about Salim and breastfeeding in Islam records Sahlah’s concern. She told the Messenger of Allah that Salim entered upon them, while he understood what men understood and knew what men knew. The Prophet replied, “Breast-feed him, and you will become unlawful to him thereby.” The report also mentions that Ibn Abi Mulaikah did not narrate it for a year, then Al-Qasim told him to narrate it and not fear it. The wording shows both the sensitivity of the report and the confidence of transmission after Al-Qasim’s direction. The explanation should stay within the Hadith text and not turn it into an open general rule.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sahlah raised a real household concern to the Messenger of Allah.
- The Prophet gave an answer tied to Salim’s case in the narration.
- Ibn Abi Mulaikah’s pause shows that sensitive reports were treated carefully.
- Al-Qasim encouraged narrating the report without fear.
