Ruling on a man who married the daughter of the woman who breastfed him while she was married to a man before the father of his wife

Question 5: From `Abd-al-`Azeez ibn `Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz, to the honorable brother the inquirer, may Allaah guide him to every goodness. Aameen.

Al-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa baraakatuh (May Allaah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!) To proceed:

Our beloved brother! We have received your message dated 19/12/1388 A.H. May Allaah guide you to His Straight Path. You inquire about the ruling on a man who married a woman but he was breastfed by her mother while the latter was married to a man other than the father of the former. Your inquiry about the ruling on such an issue is known to us.

Answer: This marriage is null and void since the man referred to in the question is a brother to the woman he got married to since he had been breastfed from her mother. This prohibition is quite evident in the Qur’aan, Sunnah and Ijmaa` (consensus) of Muslim scholars provided that her mother had breastfed him five times while he was in the first two years… read more here.

Breastfeeding relationships are equal to blood relationships in rendering marriage unlawful

Question 4: A brother from Tunisia inquires: I am a 24 year-old man. When I wanted to propose to my paternal cousin, I was surprised by everybody to know that I am her paternal uncle by breastfeeding; as my elder sister was breastfed with my uncle -the girl’s father- and he breastfed with her as well, i.e., from my mother. Is it Shar`ee (Islaamically legal) permissible for me to marry her? I hope that you wouldpromptly answer me, for I am very confused about that. May Allaah reward you with the best.

Answer: If it is proven that her father breastfed from your mother five times or more during the first two years of birth, you are to be considered as a brother to him through breastfeeding, and a paternal uncle to his daughter… read more here.