No, drinking breast milk from one's wife is not considered haram (forbidden) in Islam.
Understanding the Islamic Perspective on Breastfeeding
The Islamic rulings regarding breastfeeding and its implications are very specific. It's crucial to differentiate between normal marital relations and the specific conditions that create a "milk kinship" (mahram).
Key Conditions for Milk Kinship:
- Age of the Child: The breastfeeding must occur within the first two years of the child's life, before weaning.
- Number of Feedings: The breastfeeding must consist of five or more feedings to establish milk kinship.
Table Summarizing the Rules
| Condition | Effect on Haram Status |
|---|---|
| Under two years old | May create mahram status |
| Five or more feeds | May create mahram status |
| Adult consumption | No effect on haram status |
| Fewer than 5 feeds | No effect on haram status |
Why Drinking Wife's Milk is Not Haram
- Not a Child: Drinking breast milk by an adult (in this case, the husband) does not create a mahram relationship. The conditions for milk kinship are not met because the individual consuming the milk is an adult, not a child needing nourishment.
- No Kinship Created: The purpose of milk kinship is to establish close familial relationships that prohibit marriage. These relationships are created for children being nursed, not for adults consuming the milk. As the reference clearly states, "the breastfeeding which has an effect is that which consists of five feedings or more within the first two years, before weaning".
- Adult consumption has no effect: As stated, "Drinking one's wife's milk has no effect".
Example
- If a husband drinks some of his wife's breast milk, this does not affect their marital relationship in any way. It does not create a mahram status, and they can continue their marital life normally. The action is not considered forbidden.
In summary, the act of a husband drinking his wife's breast milk is permissible and has no effect on their marital relationship according to Islamic law as it does not meet the conditions required to create a mahram relationship.
