Can I Marry a Woman if Her Mother Breastfed Me Only Once?
Question
I wanted to marry a girl, but later I discovered that her mother had breastfed me once when I was around one year old. I did some research and found that, according to the Quran, marriage between individuals who share a breastfeeding bond is forbidden. However, there is no clear evidence on the specific number of times breastfeeding must occur for this prohibition to apply. Afterward, I looked into Hadiths and found that two of the Imams believe that marriage is prohibited if there was even a single drop of milk, while two others hold the view that it should be five instances of breastfeeding for the prohibition to apply. Please guide me regarding this issue.what should i do i am in confusion. Thanks
Islamic Ruling & Answer
According to the Hanafi school of thought, no specific number of breastfeeding instances is required to establish the prohibition of marriage (through fosterage). The basic principle is that if a child has consumed the milk and it contributed to the childโs physical development, Provided that this breastfeeding occurred within the first two years of age,then the foster relationship is established.
Therefore, if it is proven that the girlโs mother breastfed you in your childhood, she will be considered your foster mother, and her daughter will be your foster sister.
In this case, marrying that girl is not permissible, so it is necessary to avoid such a marriage.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
March 28, 2026 ยท Updated July 06, 2026
Researched & verified under our editorial & answer-review policy.
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