Breast feeding milk without permission: My brother wife has given her milk to my 20 days son without my and my brother permission

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My brother wife has given her milk to my 20 days son without my and my brother permission, I want to know Husband permission is required or not? and give me reference for breast feeding from other than mother.

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Answer:

Breast feeding milk without permission

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It can only be considered proper etiquette that one seeks the permission of the biological parents/guardians of an infant before one feeds them anything!!  If your brother's wife has breastfed your infant son without your or her husband's permission, it would be best to politely confirm or ask her the reason or intention for doing so.  If you are convinced her intentions were good, you are well within your rights to excuse her; and if you fear that her intentions were otherwise, you are well within your rights to firmly let her know that what she did of her own will is unacceptable and should not be repeated again.

Whatever might be the intention, your son having suckled from your brother's wife would be deemed to have formed a sacred 'mehram' relationship with that woman in the Sight of Shariah Law, and all the restrictions which apply to a 'mehram' relative will be applicable between them.

Al-Muwatta Hadith 30.4

Yahya related from Malik from Thawr ibn Zayd ad-Dili that Abdullah ibn Abbas said, "The milk which a child under two years old sucks, even if it is only one suck, makes the foster relatives haram (sacred)."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brothers and well wishers in Islam,

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