The question of whether adult breastfeeding is allowed in Islam is a nuanced topic with varying interpretations among Islamic jurists, primarily concerning its legal implications rather than a general blanket prohibition or permission.
Understanding Adult Breastfeeding in Islam
In Islamic jurisprudence, breastfeeding typically creates a mahram relationship (milk kinship or fosterage) between the nursling and the wet nurse, prohibiting marriage between them and certain relatives. This kinship is generally understood to apply when the nursing occurs during infancy.
Scholarly Views on Adult Suckling and Marriage Impediment
The crucial aspect discussed by jurists regarding adult breastfeeding is whether it establishes the same bar to marriage as infant breastfeeding.
Key Interpretations:
| Viewpoint | Effect of Adult Breastfeeding on Marriage |
|---|---|
| Most Jurists | Does NOT create a marriage impediment. For the majority of Islamic scholars, the establishment of milk kinship that prohibits marriage is effective only if the nursling is an infant. This means that if an adult were to suckle, it would generally not create a permanent marital prohibition according to this view. |
| Ibn Hazm (and some others) | DOES create a marriage impediment. Ibn Hazm, a prominent jurist from the Zahiri school of thought, is a notable exception who held that adult suckling does establish the same marital prohibition as infant breastfeeding, regardless of the nursling's age. |
This distinction is fundamental to understanding the varying legal stances. While the act itself is uncommon and not generally encouraged, the primary concern within Islamic law revolves around whether it creates the extensive family ties that restrict marriage.
Context and Implications
It is important to note that discussions about adult breastfeeding in Islamic texts often arise in specific, rare contexts, such as historical narrations or unique dispensations. The broader principle remains that milk kinship, which establishes unmarriageable relatives (mahram), is primarily linked to nursing during infancy.
Therefore, while the concept of adult suckling is acknowledged within Islamic discourse, its legal status – particularly concerning the formation of marital impediments – is subject to scholarly debate, with the predominant view holding that it does not establish a bar to marriage for adults.
