A boy Abdullah's match was fixed by his grandmother with a girl Zaynab, and the mothers of both children are alive. Later it became known that Zaynab's mother Gulnaz had breastfed Abdullah only once in his whole life in childhood. The question is: does Abdullah and Zaynab's marriage become haram by suckling only once, or can this match stand? What is its detailed ruling in the light of the Qur'an and Hadith?

According to the preponderant and authentic position of the Islamic Shariah, the prohibition of marriage is not established by a woman's breastfeeding only once in childhood. Therefore, this match of Abdullah and Zaynab stands perfectly in its place, and their marriage with each other is completely permissible and halal in the Shariah.

The evidence for this ruling is that prohibition through breastfeeding is established only when the child, within the age of two years, has suckled properly to satisfaction on at least five separate occasions. Suckling fewer than five times (once, twice or three times) does not establish the relationship of foster brother and sister, and has no effect on marriage.

It is narrated from Sayyidah A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in Sahih Muslim that in the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, this Shar'i principle was settled, that prohibition of marriage is established only by five clearly separate sucklings. Suckling fewer times than that was not made by the Shariah a cause of prohibition of marriage.

Since Mrs Gulnaz breastfed Abdullah only once in his whole life, Zaynab did not become Abdullah's foster sister in the Shariah. The match that the grandmother fixed is correct and stands; both mothers should remain reassured, and the family members need no worry or doubt — this marriage is completely permissible in the Shariah.

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.