26/53. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3324 — Wives of the Prophet on Salim’s Case
Breast-feeding An Adult
Hadith About the Wives’ View of Salim’s Concession
Sunan an-Nasai : 3324
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3324
أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، وَمَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ أَبَى سَائِرُ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِنَّ بِتِلْكَ الرَّضْعَةِ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ - يُرِيدُ رَضَاعَةَ الْكَبِيرِ - وَقُلْنَ لِعَائِشَةَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نُرَى الَّذِي أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَهْلَةَ بِنْتَ سُهَيْلٍ إِلاَّ رُخْصَةً فِي رَضَاعَةِ سَالِمٍ وَحْدَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا أَحَدٌ بِهَذِهِ الرَّضْعَةِ وَلاَ يَرَانَا .
`Urwa Narrated from:
The rest of the wives of the Prophet refused for anyone to enter upon them on the basis of that type of breast-feeding, meaning breast-feeding of an adult. They said to 'Aishah: 'By Allah, we think that what the Messenger of Allah told Sahlah bint Suhail to do was a concession which was granted by the Messenger of Allah only with regard to breast-feeding Salim. By Allah, no one will enter upon us, nor see us on the basis of this type of breast-feeding.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3324In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 129English translation : Vol. 4, Book 26, Hadith 3326
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3324
This Hadith about adult breastfeeding in Islam records the view of the rest of the wives of the Prophet. 'Urwah said that they refused to allow anyone to enter upon them on the basis of that type of breastfeeding. The narration explains that this refers to breastfeeding of an adult. They told Aishah that they thought what the Messenger of Allah told Sahlah bint Suhail to do was only a concession for Salim. They also said that no one would enter upon them or see them based on such breastfeeding. This report is important because it directly shows how they limited the case in their own practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- The wives of the Prophet did not apply this type of breastfeeding generally to themselves.
- They viewed Sahlah’s action as a concession linked to Salim.
- They refused entry and seeing based on adult breastfeeding.
- The narration itself warns against broadening the case beyond its wording.
