Breastfeeding a Husband During Pregnancy in Islam: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

Hello, dear readers! Are you looking for an explanation about breastfeeding a husband during pregnancy in Islam? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because this is exactly what I'll explain here. As Muslims, it's essential to understand this topic, and that's why I wrote this article. So, I encourage you to read it to the end!

In this article, I will explain three important aspects regarding breastfeeding a husband during pregnancy in Islam:

Breastfeeding a Man in Islam

The first key point I will discuss is breastfeeding a man in Islam. It's important to understand the core of this issue.

Can a Husband Drink Breast Milk of Wife in Islam?

If we refer to Islamic law regarding breastfeeding a man, we can find the debate rooted in the following hadith:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ سَالِماً مَوْلَى أَبِيْ حُذَيْفَةَ كَانَ مَعَ أَبِيْ حُذَيْفَةَ وَأَهْلِهِ فِيْ بَيْتِهِمْ . فَأَتَتْ تَعْنِي اِبْنَةُ سُهَيْلٍ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ : إِنَّ سَالِماً قَدْ بَلَغَ مَا يَبْلُغُ الرِّجَالُ , وَعَقَلَ مَا عَقَلُوْا , وَإِنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا , وَإِنِّي أَظُنُّ أَنَّ فِيْ نَفْسِ أَبِيْ حُذَيْفَةَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا . فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : أَرْضِعِيْهِ تَحْرُمِيْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَذْهَبُ الَّذِيْ فِيْ نَفْسِ أَبِيْ حُذَيْفَةَ . فَرَجَعَتْ فَقَالَتْ : إِنِّي قَدْ أَرْضَعْتُهُ فَذَهَبَ الَّذِيْ فِيْ نَفْسِ أَبِيْ حُذَيْفَةَ

From Aisha (radliyallahu anha), she narrated that Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudzaifah, lived in the house with Abu Hudzaifah and his family. Suhail's daughter came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said, "Salim has reached adulthood, and he can think like men. He frequently enters our home, and I believe that something is in Abu Hudzaifah's heart about this." The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then said, "Breastfeed him, and he will become your Mahram, and what is in Abu Hudzaifah's heart will be resolved." She then breastfed him, and what was in Abu Hudzaifah's heart was resolved.

Authenticity and Relevance of the Hadith

We must understand the authenticity of this hadith. It is considered a sahih (authentic) hadith, reported by multiple hadith compilers, including Muslim, Abu Dawood, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad, and the chain of narration (sanad) reaches Aisha (radliyallahu anha).

This hadith is debated by scholars, especially considering that Salim was an adult male. Logically, it would not seem appropriate for an adult man to be breastfed by a woman who is not his relative. However, Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) commanded the woman to breastfeed him, resolving the matter in Abu Hudzaifah's heart.

Dr. Izzat 'Athiyah, a former lecturer at al-Azhar University, argued that a woman could breastfeed a man in certain circumstances, such as when they work in a closed room. This allows the woman to remove her hijab in front of him as he becomes her mahram.

Different Opinions on the Matter

An-Nawawi, a well-known Islamic scholar, explained that there are differing opinions regarding this issue. Aisha (radliyallahu anha) and Dawud al-Zhahiri believed that breastfeeding a man could establish a mahram relationship, similar to breastfeeding a child under two years old. However, the majority of Islamic scholars, including the Companions and later jurists, agree that breastfeeding beyond infancy (i.e., after the child is over two years old) does not establish a mahram relationship.

Thus, while breastfeeding an adult male may have been accepted in some cases, it does not automatically make him a mahram unless he is under two years old.

Can Husband Drink Breast Milk of Wife During Pregnancy in Islam?

The second important question I will address is: Can a husband drink his wife's breast milk during pregnancy in Islam?

This is a topic that some Muslims may not fully understand. It is important to clarify that Islam allows a wife to breastfeed her husband. This means that breastfeeding in this context is neither prohibited nor particularly encouraged.

If you ask whether it is permissible for a husband to drink his wife's breast milk during pregnancy, the answer is Yes, it is allowed. However, there is no explicit encouragement in Islam for this practice, and some Muslim couples choose to do this to strengthen their marital bond.

Will the Husband Become a Mahram?

The third crucial point to address is: Will breastfeeding a husband during pregnancy make him a mahram?

As discussed earlier, breastfeeding can establish a mahram relationship only when the child is under the age of two. Therefore, breastfeeding a husband does not make him a mahram to his wife.

This is reinforced by the following hadith:

عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لَا يُحَرِّمُ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ إِلَّا مَا فَتَقَ الْأَمْعَاءَ فِيْ الثَّدْيِ وَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْفِطَامِ

Umm Salamah (radliyallahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Breastfeeding will not make a person a mahram unless the milk reaches the stomach and occurs before weaning."

Conclusion

To summarize, breastfeeding a husband during pregnancy in Islam does not make him a mahram, and while a husband may drink his wife's breast milk during pregnancy, this is not a widely encouraged practice. Understanding these key principles is essential for Muslims in order to follow the teachings of Islam correctly.

I hope this article was helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!