Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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:

our family wants to tie a marriage knot between two cousins i.e. son and daughter, they belong to two different brothers but daughters mother is saying that during infancy stage that she feed the boy but there is no witness and it is only presumption. if she had feed the boy than he is feeding brother of the girl. shall under such circumstances permisable for us to go for thre marriage knot. please brief us according to holy quran and sunnah.

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Answer:

Witness to foster relationship

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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 23:

23 Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mother, daughters, sisters, father's sisters, mother's sisters, brother's daughters, sister's daughters, foster-mothers (who gave you suck), foster-sisters, your wives' mothers, your step-daughters under your guardianship born of your wives to whom ye have gone in, no prohibition if ye have not gone in; (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins, and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Dear and beloved brother, even if there is absolutely no other witness but the mother of the daughter alone bears witness, or even doubts or presumes that she might have perchance given suck to the boy who seeks to marry her daughter in his infancy….then the elders in the family should not allow such a marriage to take place if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day; for it is absolutely prohibited, unlawful, and ‘haraam’ in Shariah Law for two people of the opposite sex to marry each other if they have taken suck from the same woman.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.36 Narrated by Aisha

The Messenger of Allah (saws): ‘Foster suckling relations make all those things unlawful which are unlawful through corresponding birth (blood) relations.’

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan