Can I Marry Someone if I Was Breastfed Fewer Than Five Times?
Question
Asalaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, respected Mufti Sahib, I hope you are well. I was breastfed as an infant only a few times — less than five sucklings — without awareness, and many years later developed feelings toward her son. My family follows the Hanafi school, which considers even one feeding enough to establish milk-kinship, while the Shafi‘i, Hanbali, and Maliki schools require five or more. Could you kindly advise, considering all major madhhabs, whether marriage in my situation is permanently prohibited or if any opinion permits it? JazakAllahu khair for your time and guidance
Islamic Ruling & Answer
Walekumusslam,
If a child has drunk a woman’s breast milk even once in infancy, then according to the Hanafi school, milk-kinship is established. As a result, marriage with that woman’s children becomes permanently prohibited. Since your family follows the Hanafi school, marriage in this case would not be permissible.
Answered by
Daurah-e-Hadith (Fazil), Darul Uloom Deoband · Specialization in Fiqh & Ifta (Grade A), Jamea Tul Hidaya, Jaipur
July 02, 2026
Researched & verified under our editorial & answer-review policy.
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