The Hadith of Adult Breastfeeding
One of the most controversial hadiths in Islam concerns the practice of an adult woman breastfeeding an adult man to create a mahram (unmarriageable) relationship. This is not a fabricated or weak hadith—it appears in Sahih Muslim, one of the two most authentic hadith collections in Sunni Islam.
The Primary Hadith
"Aisha reported that Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, lived with him and his family in their house. She (i.e. the daughter of Suhail) came to Allah's Apostle and said: 'Salim has attained (puberty) as men attain, and he understands what they understand, and he enters our house freely. I, however, perceive that something (rankles) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa.' Thereupon Allah's Apostle said to her: 'Suckle him and you would become unlawful for him, and (the rankling) which Abu Hudhaifa feels in his heart will disappear.' She returned and said: 'So I suckled him, and what (was there) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa disappeared.'" — Sahih Muslim 8:3424
Additional Supporting Hadiths
"Aisha reported that Sahla bint Suhail came to Allah's Prophet and said: 'Messenger of Allah, I see on the face of Abu Hudhaifa (signs of disgust) on entering of Salim (who is an ally) into (our house),' whereupon Allah's Prophet said: 'Suckle him.' She said: 'How can I suckle him as he is a grown-up man?' Allah's Messenger smiled and said: 'I already know that he is a young man.'" — Sahih Muslim 8:3425
"Aisha narrated: 'The Prophet ordered Sahla bint Suhail to breastfeed Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, with five feedings to make him a mahram for her.' She did so, and after that she was allowed to be in his presence without hijab." — Muwatta Malik 30:1:7
The Controversy
This hadith raises obvious questions and concerns:
- Physical Act: How exactly does an adult woman breastfeed an adult man? The hadith doesn't elaborate, but the physical implications are disturbing.
- Sexual Implications: The act of breastfeeding is intimate and involves exposing the breast. How this doesn't constitute a sexual act is unclear.
- Aisha's Special Ruling: Some scholars claim this was a special ruling only for Sahla, but Aisha herself believed it applied to all women.
Aisha's Application
"Aisha used to recommend that her sister Um Kulthum and her brother's daughters should give milk to young men whom Aisha wanted to see and visit her." — Sunan Ibn Majah
Scholarly Debate
Those Who Accept It
Some scholars, following Aisha's interpretation, permit adult breastfeeding to create mahram relationships. This position has seen modern application, including a 2007 fatwa by Dr. Izzat Atiyya of Al-Azhar University suggesting female workers could breastfeed male colleagues to work together privately.
Those Who Reject It
Many scholars reject this practice, claiming it was either:
- A one-time special case
- Misunderstood or metaphorical
- Abrogated by later rulings
However, these explanations struggle with the hadith's presence in Sahih Muslim and Aisha's continued application of the principle.
The Logical Problems
- Contradicts Hijab Rules: If the purpose is to avoid sexual temptation, how does exposing the breast and nursing accomplish this?
- Creates More Opportunities for Abuse: The ruling essentially requires a sexual act to prevent sexual temptation.
- Aisha's Authority: If Aisha, the most knowledgeable woman in early Islam, believed this applied generally, why do most Muslims today reject it?
Modern Embarrassment
Many Muslims are unaware of this hadith or dismiss it when confronted with it. However, its presence in Sahih Muslim makes it impossible to deny as inauthentic. The hadith collection's very name means "Authentic Muslim."
This creates a dilemma: either accept a disturbing practice as authentic Islamic teaching, or reject hadith from one of the two most trusted collections—undermining the entire hadith tradition.
Biblical Perspective
The Bible treats human sexuality with dignity and establishes clear boundaries:
"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." — 1 Corinthians 6:18
For more on biblical teachings about purity, see our Beliefs section.
Questions to Consider
- How can this be in an "authentic" hadith collection if it seems so problematic?
- If this hadith is rejected, what does that mean for other hadiths in Sahih Muslim?
- Does this reflect the eternal, perfect guidance expected from divine revelation?
- What does this teaching reveal about the view of women's bodies in Islamic law?