Breastfeeding and Its Rulings — Two Full Years and Milk-Kinship
fiqh
Level: intermediate
family
fqh-083
وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِ
— البقرة 233
Verse: "Mothers shall breastfeed their children for two complete years — for those who wish to complete the nursing." (2:233)
Full nursing period: Two complete years (24 months) — determines the nursing mother's wage entitlement and the period for establishing milk-kinship.
Nursing mother's entitlement: Father obligated to provide her sustenance and clothing appropriately.
Conditions for milk-kinship (mahram): Five confirmed sucklings (Shafi'i and Hanbali); within two years; sufficient amount.
Effect: "What is forbidden by lineage is forbidden by nursing" (Agreed Upon) — between nursling, nursing mother, her husband, and their children.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/161); Al-Mughni (11/309); Sahih Muslim (1452)
Question: What are the conditions for establishing milk-kinship (mahram status) through nursing?
Answer: Three conditions: five confirmed sucklings (Shafi'i and Hanbali), within the first two years, in a sufficient amount. "What is forbidden by lineage is forbidden by nursing."