Breastfeeding Rules
Total Hadiths 112
Understanding Islamic Rules on Breastfeeding and Fosterage
These authentic prophetic traditions clarify the foundational rules of fosterage (milk kinship) in Islam. Aisha reported that the Prophet explicitly stated that breastfeeding establishes the exact same sacred family bonds and marriage prohibitions as birth or blood relations. To illustrate this, the accounts mention two practical situations involving Aisha and Hafsa. When a foster uncle sought permission to enter the house, it was made clear that he was considered a close relative (mahram) due to nursing. In another narrative, Aisha initially hesitated to receive her foster uncle, Aflah, because she believed only the nursing woman created the bond, not her husband. However, the Prophet gently corrected her, explaining that the relationship extends through the foster father as well. According to Islamic scholars, these texts highlight how foster relations create real familial respect, allowing foster relatives to interact freely within the home just like biological kin.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَنْبَسَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أَنَّ أَبَا حُذَيْفَةَ بْنَ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ شَمْسٍ كَانَ تَبَنَّى سَالِمًا وَأَنْكَحَهُ ابْنَةَ أَخِيهِ هِنْدَ بِنْتَ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ وَهُوَ مَوْلًى لاِمْرَأَةٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَمَا تَبَنَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَيْدًا وَكَانَ مَنْ تَبَنَّى رَجُلاً فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ دَعَاهُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَوُرِّثَ مِيرَاثَهُ حَتَّى أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى فِي ذَلِكَ { ادْعُوهُمْ لآبَائِهِمْ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَمَوَالِيكُمْ } فَرُدُّوا إِلَى آبَائِهِمْ فَمَنْ لَمْ يُعْلَمْ لَهُ أَبٌ كَانَ مَوْلًى وَأَخًا فِي الدِّينِ فَجَاءَتْ سَهْلَةُ بِنْتُ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْقُرَشِيِّ ثُمَّ الْعَامِرِيِّ - وَهِيَ امْرَأَةُ أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ - فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَرَى سَالِمًا وَلَدًا وَكَانَ يَأْوِي مَعِي وَمَعَ أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ فِي بَيْتٍ وَاحِدٍ وَيَرَانِي فُضْلاً وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِمْ مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ فَكَيْفَ تَرَى فِيهِ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَرْضِعِيهِ " . فَأَرْضَعَتْهُ خَمْسَ رَضَعَاتٍ فَكَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ وَلَدِهَا مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ فَبِذَلِكَ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ - رضى الله عنها - تَأْمُرُ بَنَاتِ أَخَوَاتِهَا وَبَنَاتِ إِخْوَتِهَا أَنْ يُرْضِعْنَ مَنْ أَحَبَّتْ عَائِشَةُ أَنْ يَرَاهَا وَيَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ كَبِيرًا خَمْسَ رَضَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهَا وَأَبَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ وَسَائِرُ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُدْخِلْنَ عَلَيْهِنَّ بِتِلْكَ الرَّضَاعَةِ أَحَدًا مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى يَرْضَعَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَقُلْنَ لِعَائِشَةَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَدْرِي لَعَلَّهَا كَانَتْ رُخْصَةً مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِسَالِمٍ دُونَ النَّاسِ .
A’ishah wife of the Prophet(ﷺ) and Umm Salamah said “Abu Hudaifah bin ‘Utbah bin Rabi’ah bin ‘Abd Shams adopted Salim as his son and married him to his niece Hind, daughter of Al Walid bin ‘Utbah bin Rabi’ah. He (Salim) was the freed slave of a woman from the Ansar (the Helpers) as the Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) adopted Zaid as his son. In pre Islamic days when anyone adopted a man as his son, the people called him by his name and he was given a share from his inheritance. Allaah, the Exalted, revealed about this matter “Call them by (the name of) their fathers, that is juster in the sight of Allaah. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith and your clients. They were then called by their names of their fathers. A man, whose father was not known, remained under the protection of someone and considered brother in faith. Sahlah daughter of Suhail bin Amr Al Quraishi then came and said Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ), we used to consider Salim(our) son. He dwelled with me and Abu Hudhaifah in the same house, and he saw me in the short clothes, but Allaah the Exalted, has revealed about them what you know, then what is your opinion about him? The Prophet (ﷺ) said give him your breast feed. She gave him five breast feeds. He then became like her foster son. Hence, A’ishah(may Allaah be pleased with her) used to ask the daughters of her sisters and the daughters of her brethren to give him breast feed five times, whom A’ishah wanted to see and who wanted to visit her. Though he might be of age; he then visited her. But Umm Salamah and all other wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) refused to allow anyone to visit them on the basis of such breast feeding unless one was given breast feed during infancy. They told A’ishah by Allaah we do not know whether that was a special concession granted by the Prophet (ﷺ) to Salim exclusive of the people.
[1] Al-Ahzāb 33:5.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 2061In-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 16English translation : Book 11, Hadith 2056
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ .
The above hadith is narrated through another chain.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1444cIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3396
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ - حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ أَنَّ أَخَا أَبِي الْقُعَيْسِ، اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهَا . فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are): " The brother of Abu'l-Qu'ais sought permission from her ('A'isha) (to enter the house). The rest is the same.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1445fIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 9USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3402
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمُقَدَّمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ .
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1446bIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3408
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّاءَ بْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو، النَّاقِدُ حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ سَوَاءً .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1449bIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 20USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3412
وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ جَدِّي، حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلُ بْنُ، خَالِدٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الزُّهْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِإِسْنَادِ ابْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ عَنْهُ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِهِ وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ فِي حَدِيثِهِ عَزَّةَ غَيْرُ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ .
The above hadith is narratted through other chains except they did not mention 'Azza like the chain of Yazid Bin Abi Habib.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1449dIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 22USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3413
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ سُوَيْدٌ وَزُهَيْرٌ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تُحَرِّمُ الْمَصَّةُ وَالْمَصَّتَانِ " .
A'isha (Allah be pleased with her), Suwaid and Zubair reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: One suckling or two do not make (marriage) unlawful.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1450In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3414
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ عَبْدَةَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ أَمَّا إِسْحَاقُ فَقَالَ كَرِوَايَةِ ابْنِ بِشْرٍ " أَوِ الرَّضْعَتَانِ أَوِ الْمَصَّتَانِ " . وَأَمَّا ابْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ فَقَالَ " وَالرَّضْعَتَانِ وَالْمَصَّتَانِ " .
In the narration transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bishr there is a mention of two sucklings and Ibn Abu Shaiba has narrated it with a small variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1451dIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 27USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3418
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَتْنِي عَمْرَةُ، أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ عَائِشَةَ، تَقُولُ . بِمِثْلِهِ .
Ahadith like this is transmitted by 'A'isha through another chain of narrators.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1452cIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 32USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3423
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالاَ، جَمِيعًا حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ الْجُعْفِيُّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ أَشْعَثَ بْنِ أَبِي الشَّعْثَاءِ، بِإِسْنَادِ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ كَمَعْنَى حَدِيثِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا " مِنَ الْمَجَاعَةِ ".
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Abu al-Ahwas with another chain of transmitters and a slight variation of words.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1455bIn-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 40USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 8, Hadith 3431
