Q: My half-uncle was a baby when his mother left him (Part No. 21; Page No. 51) to my grandfather (may Allah forgive him) after an argument between them. My mother (may Allah be merciful to her) took care of him, as he is a brother of her husband and a baby who needs breast-feeding. Since she did not have milk in her breast, she used to put drops of milk on her breast to encourage him to suck. Now, my uncle has eligible girls for marriage and my brothers want to marry them. Is there anything wrong with their marriage? Please, advise. May Allah reward you with the best!

A: The breast-feeding that prohibits marriage is one that happens at least five times during the first two years of breast-feeding. If your mother breast-fed your uncle this way, he is a foster son to her and a foster brother to her children. Subsequently, it is unlawful for your brothers to marry your uncle's daughters; because they are their brother's foster daughters. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters to His Saying: ...your foster milk suckling sisters Also Allah (Exalted be He) says: The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years It is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: Wet-nursing makes unlawful what consanguinity makes unlawful. It is authentically reported from the Hadith of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: (Part No. 21; Page No. 52) "Amongst what was sent down of the Qur'an was ten clear suckling times make the marriage unlawful then it was abrogated by Five clear (sucklings). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) died and the ruling remained effective. It should be noted that if the baby sucks the breast then leaves it, it is considered one time of breast-feeding for him and if he did it again, it will be considered a second time of breast-feeding and so on. However, if your mother used to make your uncle suck her breast to pacify him without breastfeeding him, this does not prohibit marriage and it is permissible for your brothers to marry their uncle's daughters.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.