Breast-feeding After Menopause Prohibits (Marriage)

Question :

The following question was received by the General Presidency for the Administration of Scientific Re-searches, Religious Verdicts, Preaching and Guidance: AlHajjah Mas'udah, after giving birth to a son, 'Abdur-Rahman was no longer able to bear children, having reached menopausal age. Then when 'Abdur-Rahman was four years of age, a child was born to her eldest son, Muhammad and he called him Al-Mas'ud. Then when Al-Mas'ud was one year and nine months old, his grandmother, Al-Hajjah Mas'udah gave him her breast after her son, 'Abdur-Rahman had been weaned. So we do not know if she had milk or not.

Is it permissible for Al-Mas'ud to marry the daughter of his paternal uncle, Al-Mukhtar or not? And what is the ruling of the religion on this?

Answer:

The breast-feeding which results in a prohibition is five clear breast-feedings or more, during the first two years of life, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"The mothers should suckle their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling."

And according to the narration reported from 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in which she said: "It was revealed in the Qur'an that ten known breast-feedings caused prohibition, then it was abrogated by five known breast-feedings."

So if the breast-feeding of Al-Mas'ud bin Muhammad by his grandmother, Mas'udah was in the manner described in the Verse and the Hadith, and it was ascertained by asking his grandmother, Mas'udah if she gave him milk, it would not be permissible for Mas'ud to marry the daughter of his uncle, Al- Mukhtar, because in the above-mentioned circumstances, he would be her paternal uncle. If there is any doubt over whether she gave him milk, or the breast-feeding took place less than five times, it would be permissible for him to marry her.

May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet ﷺ, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.

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