Q: I proposed marriage to a Muslim girl who is one of my relatives, and her family accepted. Yet, her mother said that she breastfed me while she was visiting us. I was a baby and crying and she wanted to breastfeed me to keep me quiet as my mother was absent. She put her breast into my mouth, but I refused to drink. Meanwhile, she is not sure if the milk reached my throat or not. She added that the milk was just a few drops. Is it unlawful for me to marry her daughter? Please, clarify the time and manner of the type of breastfeeding that leads to prohibition in marriage.

A: Firstly, if the reality is as you have mentioned that the breastfeeding was done in this way, it is (Part No. 21; Page No. 29) permissible for you to marry the daughter of this woman. Secondly, the prohibitive breastfeeding must be five well-known feedings that take place during the first two years of a baby's life, as Allah (Exalted be He) says, The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling It was authentically reported from `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who said, (When the Qur'an was first revealed, the number of breast feedings that established the prohibition of marriage was ten, then this was abrogated and replaced with only five which is well-known, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away when this was the case).It is noteworthy that if the child suckles the milk, little or much, then he lets go of the nipple, it counts as one feeding. If he suckles the milk, little or much, again, then he stops breastfeeding, it counts as the second feeding and so on. Likewise, if drops of milk reach his throat directly or indirectly through the nose, then the drops stopped even if for a while, it counts as one feeding. If this activity is resumed, it counts as a second feeding and so on.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.