SAEDNEWS: According to Islamic jurisprudence, breastfeeding a child under certain conditions can establish a relationship of mahram (marriage prohibition). But is a foster sister or brother also considered mahram in the same way as a biological sibling?
According to Saednews, In Islam, the family and bonds of kinship hold a special position, and precise rulings have been established to determine which individuals are considered mahram and with whom marriage is prohibited. One important and frequently discussed topic in this regard is rada'ah (breastfeeding) and its legal consequences. Many people are familiar with the concepts of a “milk brother” and “milk sister,” but there can be uncertainty about the details of these rulings, particularly concerning the ruling on the sister of a milk brother. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the subject and explains the relevant conditions, rules, and answer to this question.
In Islamic jurisprudence, rada'ah refers to a woman breastfeeding a child who is not her biological child, in a manner that establishes a relationship similar to biological kinship. The child who is breastfed is referred to as a foster child through breastfeeding or a milk son, while the woman who breastfeeds him is called his milk mother, and her husband is called his milk father. When the required conditions are fulfilled, this relationship creates mahram relationships and prohibits marriage between certain individuals.
The importance of this subject stems from the fact that many family-related rulings, including marriage, hijab, and interaction with non-mahram individuals, depend on correctly identifying who is a mahram. Therefore, understanding the Islamic rulings concerning breastfeeding is important for Muslims.
According to Shia Islamic jurisprudence, specific conditions must be fulfilled for breastfeeding to establish a mahram relationship. Without these conditions, no such legal relationship is established. These conditions include:
The nursing woman must be alive: The child must consume the milk of a living woman, rather than milk from a deceased woman.
The milk must be lawfully produced: The milk must have resulted from a lawful marriage. Breastfeeding from milk resulting from an unlawful relationship does not establish the relevant mahram relationship.
Direct breastfeeding: The child must suckle directly from the woman's breast rather than receiving the milk through a container or another means.
The required amount of milk: The child must breastfeed either fifteen complete and consecutive times, or for one full day and night to the point of being adequately nourished, or for an amount sufficient to strengthen the child's bones and cause flesh to develop. These requirements are discussed in detail in Islamic jurisprudential texts.
The child's age: The child must be under two full years of age. Breastfeeding after the child has completed two years does not establish a mahram relationship.
These conditions are necessary for a ruling of mahram status to apply. In cases of uncertainty, a person should consult their religious authority (*marja').
The central question is: Can a person marry the sister of his milk brother, or is she considered a mahram in the same way as a biological sister?
To answer this, it is necessary to clarify what is meant by “the sister of a milk brother.” There are two possible situations.
Suppose a person named Hasan is breastfed by the same woman who breastfed another boy. That boy becomes Hasan's milk brother. The question is whether the biological sisters of that boy also become mahram to Hasan.
The answer is no.
The biological sisters of the breastfed boy do not become mahram to Hasan merely because their brother has a milk relationship with him. In other words, when a woman breastfeeds a child, the effects of breastfeeding apply to the breastfed child and the specific individuals connected to him through the rules of rada'ah—not automatically to his biological brothers and sisters.
Therefore, Hasan may marry the biological sister of his milk brother, because no breastfeeding-based mahram relationship has been established between Hasan and that girl.
The reason is that rada'ah establishes specific relationships between the breastfed child and certain individuals; it does not extend automatically to every member of the child's biological family.
Another possible interpretation is that the question concerns the daughters of the woman who breastfed the child.
For example, suppose a woman named Maryam has a son named Ali. Hasan is breastfed by Maryam. Hasan then becomes Ali's milk brother. What is the ruling concerning Ali's sisters—that is, Maryam's daughters?
Yes, they become mahram to Hasan.
According to the relevant jurisprudential rule, the children of the nursing woman become mahram to the breastfed child. Therefore, her daughters are regarded as Hasan's milk sisters, and marriage between Hasan and those daughters is prohibited.
This applies even if those daughters themselves were never breastfed by Maryam. Their relationship to Hasan arises from their being the children of his milk mother.
In simple terms:
If someone's milk brother is the biological son of the nursing woman, then that woman's daughters are also his milk sisters.
However, the biological sister of that milk brother does not automatically become his milk sister simply because her brother has a breastfeeding relationship with him.
The answer depends on which “sister” is meant.
If she is the biological sister of the boy who is your milk brother, and she is not herself a daughter of your milk mother, then the breastfeeding relationship alone does not make her your mahram, and marriage with her is not prohibited on that basis.
However, if she is a daughter of your milk mother, then she is your milk sister, and marriage with her is prohibited once the conditions for rada'ah have been fulfilled.
Because the detailed conditions of breastfeeding rulings can vary according to the jurisprudential authority being followed, specific cases should be checked with the relevant marja' or qualified Islamic scholar.
