Conditions for Prohibiting Breastfeeding

**Breastfeeding does not establish kinship and spread prohibition except with two conditions:** --- **1. During the First Two Years:** The breastfeeding must occur during the first two years of the infant's life. Breastfeeding after two years has no effect. **Evidence:** - Allah says: "And mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing" [Al-Baqarah: 233] - Allah says: "And his weaning is in two years" [Luqman: 14] - Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Only that breastfeeding which expands the intestines at the breast and occurs before weaning is prohibited" [Tirmidhi - hasan sahih, authenticated by Al-Albani]. The meaning of "expands the intestines" is: reaches them and nourishes them. So the prohibiting breastfeeding is what occurs in infancy and takes the place of nutrition - when the infant is small and the milk satisfies his hunger and builds his flesh. --- **2. Five Satisfying Breastfeedings:** She must breastfeed him five satisfying breastfeedings or more. **Evidence:** Aisha رضي الله عنها said: "Among what was revealed in the Quran was: 'Ten known breastfeedings prohibit,' then it was abrogated by 'five known breastfeedings.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away while that was still being recited from the Quran" [Muslim]. This is from what was abrogated in recitation but its ruling remains. --- **Note:** If the milk reaches the infant's stomach by means other than breastfeeding - such as being dropped in his mouth, or drinking it from a vessel or similar - it has the ruling of breastfeeding, provided it happens five times.