Chapter on Breastfeeding

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 3|Chapter 47

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

Volume 3, Book 3, Chapter 47

Chapter on Breastfeeding
26 Aḥadīth
Ḥadīth 1

4661 - رُوِيَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "اَلرَّضَاعُ وَاحِدٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ شَهْراً فَمَا نَقَصَ فَهُوَ جَوْرٌ عَلَى اَلصَّبِيِّ".

Hadith.4661 - It was narrated from Sama'ah ibn Mihran that Abu Abdullah (as) said: "Breastfeeding is for twenty-one months, and anything less than that is an injustice to the child."

Ḥadīth 2

4662 - وَ سَأَلَ سَعْدُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : عَنِ اَلصَّبِيِّ هَلْ يُرْضَعُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ سَنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ "عَامَيْنِ" قُلْتُ فَإِنْ زَادَ عَلَى سَنَتَيْنِ هَلْ عَلَى أَبَوَيْهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ قَالَ "لاَ".

Hadith.4662 - Sa'd ibn Sa'd asked Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) about whether a child can be breastfed for more than two years. Imam (as) replied: "Two years." I asked: "If it exceeds two years, is there any obligation upon the parents because of that?" Imam (as) said: "No."

Ḥadīth 3

4663 - وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "مَا مِنْ لَبَنٍ يُرْضَعُ بِهِ اَلصَّبِيُّ أَعْظَمَ بَرَكَةً عَلَيْهِ مِنْ لَبَنِ أُمِّهِ".

Hadith.4663 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "There is no milk with greater blessing for a child to be nursed with than the milk of his mother."

Ḥadīth 4

4664 - : وَ نَظَرَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَى أُمِّ إِسْحَاقَ بِنْتِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَ هِيَ تُرْضِعُ أَحَدَ اِبْنَيْهَا مُحَمَّداً أَوْ إِسْحَاقَ فَقَالَ "يَا أُمَّ إِسْحَاقَ لاَ تُرْضِعِيهِ مِنْ ثَدْيٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ أَرْضِعِيهِ مِنْ كِلَيْهِمَا يَكُونُ أَحَدُهُمَا طَعَاماً وَ اَلْآخَرُ شَرَاباً".

Hadith.4664 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) looked at Umm Ishaq bint Sulayman while she was breastfeeding one of her two sons, either Muhammad or Ishaq, and Imam (as) said: "O Umm Ishaq, do not nurse him from only one breast; rather, nurse him from both. One will serve as food and the other as drink."

Ḥadīth 5

4665 - وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ اَلْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلنَّسَبِ" فَسِّرْهُ لِي فَقَالَ "كُلُّ اِمْرَأَةٍ أَرْضَعَتْ مِنْ لَبَنِ فَحْلِهَا وَلَدَ اِمْرَأَةٍ أُخْرَى مِنْ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ غُلاَمٍ فَذَلِكَ اَلرَّضَاعُ اَلَّذِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ كُلُّ اِمْرَأَةٍ أَرْضَعَتْ مِنْ لَبَنِ فَحْلَيْنِ كَانَا لَهَا وَاحِداً بَعْدَ آخَرَ مِنْ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ غُلاَمٍ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ رَضَاعٌ لَيْسَ بِالرَّضَاعِ اَلَّذِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ "يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلنَّسَبِ"".

Hadith.4665 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Hisham ibn Salim from Burayd al-Ijli who said: I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): "What is the meaning of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) - 'What is unlawful through lineage is also unlawful through breastfeeding'? Explain it to me." Imam (as) replied: "Every woman who nurses, with the milk of her husband, the child of another woman, whether the child is male or female, that is the breastfeeding (ridha') referred to by the Messenger of Allah (swt) (may Allah bless him and his family). But any woman who nurses, with the milk of two different husbands (one after the other), the child of another woman, whether male or female, this is breastfeeding that does not fall under the ruling of the statement of the Messenger of Allah (swt) 'What is prohibited through breastfeeding is the same as what is prohibited through lineage.'"

Ḥadīth 6

4666 - وَ قَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ : "لاَ رَضَاعَ بَعْدَ فِطَامٍ".

Hadith.4666 - The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "There is no breastfeeding after weaning."

Ḥadīth 7

4667 - وَ رَوَى دَاوُدُ بْنُ اَلْحُصَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "اَلرَّضَاعُ بَعْدَ حَوْلَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْطَمَ يُحَرِّمُ".

Hadith.4667 - Dawud ibn Al-Husayn narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: "Breastfeeding within two years, before the child is weaned, establishes prohibition."

Ḥadīth 8

4668 - وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ قَالَ كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ إِلَى أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : اِمْرَأَةٌ أَرْضَعَتْ بَعْضَ وُلْدِي هَلْ يَجُوزُ لِي أَنْ أَتَزَوَّجَ بَعْضَ وُلْدِهَا فَكَتَبَ "لاَ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ وُلْدَهَا قَدْ صَارَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ وُلْدِكَ".

Hadith.4668 - It was narrated from Ayyub ibn Nuh who said: Ali ibn Shu'ayb wrote to Abu al-Hasan (as) asking: "A woman breastfed one of my children. Is it permissible for me to marry one of her children?" Imam (as) wrote in response, "That is not permissible because her children have become like your own children."

Ḥadīth 9

4669 - وَ كَتَبَ عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ اَلْحِمْيَرِيُّ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ اَلْعَسْكَرِيِّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : فِي اِمْرَأَةٍ أَرْضَعَتْ وَلَدَ اَلرَّجُلِ أَ يَحِلُّ لِذَلِكَ اَلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ اِبْنَةَ هَذِهِ اَلْمُرْضِعَةِ أَمْ لاَ فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "لاَ يَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ لَهُ".

Hadith.4669 - Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Himyari wrote to Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan ibn Ali Al-Askari (as) asking about a woman who breastfed a man's child. He asked: "Is it permissible for that man to marry the daughter of this wet nurse or not?" Imam (as) responded, "It is not permissible for him."

Ḥadīth 10

4670 - وَ رَوَى اَلْعَلاَءُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً تَزَوَّجَ جَارِيَةً رَضِيعَةً فَأَرْضَعَتْهَا اِمْرَأَتُهُ فَسَدَ اَلنِّكَاحُ".

Hadith.4670 - Al-Alaa narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) who said: "If a man marries a young girl (jariyah) who is still nursing, and his wife then breastfeeds her, the marriage becomes invalid."

Ḥadīth 11

4671 - وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : فِي اَلرَّجُلِ يَتَزَوَّجُ اَلْمَرْأَةَ فَتَلِدُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تُرْضِعُ مِنْ لَبَنِهَا جَارِيَةً أَ يَصْلُحُ لِوَلَدِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ تِلْكَ اَلْجَارِيَةَ اَلَّتِي أَرْضَعَتْهَا قَالَ "لاَ هِيَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلْأُخْتِ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعَةِ لِأَنَّ اَللَّبَنَ لِفَحْلٍ وَاحِدٍ".

Hadith.4671 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Malik ibn Atiyyah from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who marries a woman, and she gives birth to his child. Then she breastfeeds a bondwoman with her milk. Imam (as) was asked: "Is it permissible for his child from another woman to marry that bondwoman whom she breastfed?" Imam (as) replied: "No, she is like a sister through breastfeeding because the milk comes from the same father."

Ḥadīth 12

4672 - وَ رَوَى حَرِيزٌ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ إِلاَّ مَا كَانَ مَجْبُوراً " قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا اَلْمَجْبُورُ قَالَ "أُمٌّ تُرَبِّي أَوْ ظِئْرٌ تُسْتَأْجَرُ أَوْ أَمَةٌ تُشْتَرَى".

Hadith.4672 - Hariz narrated from Al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: "Breastfeeding does not create a prohibition except when it is continuous and intentional." I asked: "What is meant by continuous and intentional?" Imam (as) replied: "It is when a mother raises the child, a wet nurse is hired, or a bondwoman is purchased for breastfeeding."

Ḥadīth 13

4673 - وَ رَوَى اَلْعَلاَءُ بْنُ رَزِينٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ إِلاَّ مَا اِرْتَضَعَ مِنْ ثَدْيٍ وَاحِدٍ سَنَةً".

Hadith.4673 - Al-Alaa ibn Razin narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: "Breastfeeding does not create a prohibition except when a child nurses from one breast for a full year."

Ḥadīth 14

4674 - وَ رَوَى عُبَيْدُ بْنُ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اَلرَّضَاعِ فَقَالَ "لاَ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ إِلاَّ مَا اِرْتَضَعَ مِنْ ثَدْيٍ وَاحِدٍ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ".

Hadith.4674 - Ubayd ibn Zurarah narrated from Zurarah from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: I asked him about breastfeeding, and Imam (as) said: "Breastfeeding does not create a prohibition except when a child nurses from one breast for two complete years."

Ḥadīth 15

4675 - وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ زُرَارَةَ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لاَ يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ إِلاَّ مَا كَانَ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ".

Hadith.4675 - Abdullah ibn Zurarah narrated from Al-Halabi from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: "Breastfeeding does not create a prohibition except when it is for two complete years."

Ḥadīth 16

4676 - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ اَلسَّكُونِيِّ قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: "اِنْهَوْا نِسَاءَكُمْ أَنْ يُرْضِعْنَ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالاً فَإِنَّهُنَّ يَنْسَيْنَ".

Hadith.4676 - In the narration of Al-Sakooni, it is reported that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) used to say, "Prevent your women from breastfeeding here and there (to various children), for they may forget."

Ḥadīth 17

4677 - وَ رَوَى فُضَيْلٌ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْوُضَّاءِ مِنَ اَلظُّئُورَةِ فَإِنَّ اَللَّبَنَ يُعْدِي".

Hadith.4677 - Fudayl narrated from Zurarah from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) who said: "Choose healthy wet nurses, for milk can transmit illness."

Ḥadīth 18

4678 - وَ سَأَلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ أَخَاهُ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِمَا اَلسَّلاَمُ : عَنِ اِمْرَأَةٍ زَنَتْ هَلْ تَصْلُحُ أَنْ تُسْتَرْضَعَ قَالَ "لاَ تَصْلُحُ وَ لاَ لَبَنُ اِبْنَتِهَا اَلَّتِي وُلِدَتْ مِنَ اَلزِّنَا".

Hadith.4678 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a woman who committed adultery - whether she is suitable to be taken as a wet nurse. He (as) replied: "She is not suitable, nor is the milk of her daughter who was born from adultery."

Ḥadīth 19

4679 - وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ : "لاَ تَسْتَرْضِعُوا اَلْحَمْقَاءَ فَإِنَّ اَللَّبَنَ يُعْدِي وَ إِنَّ اَلْغُلاَمَ يَنْزِعُ إِلَى اَللَّبَنِ يَعْنِي إِلَى اَلظِّئْرِ فِي اَلرُّعُونَةِ وَ اَلْحُمْقِ".

Hadith.4679 - Muhammad ibn Qays narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) who said that the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Do not choose a foolish woman as a wet nurse, for milk can transmit traits. A child is influenced by the milk, meaning by the wet nurse, in foolishness and ignorance."

Ḥadīth 20

4680 - وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ اَلْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ دَفَعَ وَلَدَهُ إِلَى ظِئْرٍ يَهُودِيَّةٍ أَوْ نَصْرَانِيَّةٍ أَوْ مَجُوسِيَّةٍ تُرْضِعُهُ فِي بَيْتِهَا أَوْ تُرْضِعُهُ فِي بَيْتِهِ قَالَ "تُرْضِعُهُ لَكَ اَلْيَهُودِيَّةُ وَ اَلنَّصْرَانِيَّةُ وَ تَمْنَعُهَا مِنْ شُرْبِ اَلْخَمْرِ وَ مَا لاَ يَحِلُّ مِثْلَ لَحْمِ اَلْخِنْزِيرِ وَ لاَ يَذْهَبْنَ بِوَلَدِكَ إِلَى بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَ اَلزَّانِيَةُ لاَ تُرْضِعُ وَلَدَكَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَحِلُّ لَكَ وَ اَلْمَجُوسِيَّةُ لاَ تُرْضِعُ لَكَ وَلَدَكَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُضْطَرَّ إِلَيْهَا".

Hadith.4680 - Ibn Muskan narrated from Al-Halabi who said: I asked him about a man who gives his child to a Jewish, Christian, or Magian (Zoroastrian) wet nurse to breastfeed him either in her house or in his house. Imam (as) said: "A Jewish or Christian woman may breastfeed your child, but you must prevent her from drinking alcohol and consuming what is unlawful, such as pork. Do not let them take your child to their homes. A woman who is an adulteress must not breastfeed your child, for it is not permissible for you. A Magian woman must not breastfeed your child unless you are compelled to it."

Ḥadīth 21

4681 - وَ رَوَى حَرِيزٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "لَبَنُ اَلْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَ اَلنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَ اَلْمَجُوسِيَّةِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ لَبَنِ وَلَدِ اَلزِّنَا وَ كَانَ لاَ يَرَى بَأْساً بِلَبَنِ وَلَدِ اَلزِّنَا إِذَا جَعَلَ مَوْلَى اَلْجَارِيَةِ اَلَّذِي فَجَرَ بِالْجَارِيَةِ فِي حِلٍّ".

Hadith.4681 - Hariz narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) who said: "The milk of a Jewish, Christian, or Magian woman is more beloved to me than the milk of a child born from adultery. However, he saw no harm in the milk of a child born from adultery if the master of the bondwoman, with whom the immoral act was committed, pardons it."

Ḥadīth 22

4682 - وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اِمْرَأَةٍ دَرَّ لَبَنُهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ وِلاَدَةٍ فَأَرْضَعَتْ جَارِيَةً وَ غُلاَماً بِذَلِكَ اَللَّبَنِ هَلْ يَحْرُمُ بِذَلِكَ اَللَّبَنِ مَا يَحْرُمُ مِنَ اَلرَّضَاعِ قَالَ "لاَ".

Hadith.4682 - Muhammad ibn Abi Umayr narrated from Yunus ibn Yaqub from Abu Abdullah (as) who said: I asked Imam (as) about a woman whose milk flowed without childbirth, and she breastfed a girl and a boy with that milk. Does this milk create the same prohibitions as regular breastfeeding? Imam (as) replied: "No."

Ḥadīth 23

4683 - وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "وَجُورُ اَلصَّبِيِّ اَللَّبَنَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اَلرَّضَاعِ".

Hadith.4683 - Abu Abdullah (as) said: "The sucking of milk by a child is equivalent to breastfeeding."

Ḥadīth 24

4684 - وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "لاَ تُجْبَرُ اَلْحُرَّةُ عَلَى إِرْضَاعِ اَلْوَلَدِ وَ تُجْبَرُ أُمُّ اَلْوَلَدِ".

Hadith.4684 - Imam Abu Abdullah (as) said: "A free woman cannot be forced to breastfeed a child, but a but a bondwoman (umm al-walad) can be compelled to do so."

Ḥadīth 25

4685 - وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي رَجُلٍ تُوُفِّيَ وَ تَرَكَ صَبِيّاً وَ اُسْتُرْضِعَ لَهُ "أَنَّ أَجْرَ رَضَاعِ اَلصَّبِيِّ مِمَّا يَرِثُ مِنْ أَبِيهِ وَ أُمِّهِ".

Hadith.4685 - The Commander of the Faithful (as), ruled regarding a man who passed away and left behind a child who needed to be breastfed: "The payment for the child's breastfeeding should be taken from what the child inherits from his father and mother."

Ḥadīth 26

4686 - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ اَلسَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : أَنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَمَتِي أَرْضَعَتْ وَلَدِي وَ قَدْ أَرَدْتُ بَيْعَهَا قَالَ "خُذْ بِيَدِهَا وَ قُلْ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي مِنِّي أُمَّ وَلَدِي".

Hadith.4686 - In the narration of Al-Sakooni from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) from his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), it is reported that a man came to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) and said: "My bondwoman has breastfed my child, and I want to sell her." Imam (as) replied: "Take her by the hand and say, 'Who will buy from me the mother of my child?'"