as did Ibn al-Mājishūn, that weaning is only taken into account after the nursing period has elapsed. They interpreted the Messenger of Allah’s hadith (peace and blessings be upon him) accordingly.
Section
Al-Layth ibn Saʿd and a group of scholars held that breastfeeding an adult establishes a marriage prohibition. Their evidence is the hadith of Sālim, the freedman of Abū Hudhayfa. Mālik—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—cited it in al-Muwattaʾ, reporting from Ibn Shihāb that he was asked about breastfeeding adults and replied: “ʿUrwa ibn al-Zubayr informed me…”—then related the hadith in full. Mālik and most scholars understood this hadith to apply specifically to Sālim, the freedman of Abū Hudhayfa, as did all the Prophet’s wives except ʿĀʾisha.
Among those who held that “breastfeeding an adult has no legal effect” were ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, Abū Hurayra, Ibn ʿAbbās, all the Prophet’s wives other than ʿĀʾisha, the majority of the Successors, and the jurists of the major centres of learning. Their evidence is the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him):
“Breastfeeding counts only when it relieves hunger, and only that which nourishes flesh and blood counts.”
Ibn Habīb said that the scholars’ disagreement concerning breastfeeding adults relates only to covering and veiling; as for marriage, they did not disagree that it establishes no prohibition. The correct view, however, is that their disagreement extends to marriage as well. Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī used to issue rulings that it established a marriage prohibition, but later adopted Ibn Masʿūd’s position, saying: “Do not ask me about anything as long as this learned scholar is among you.” People will continue to fare well so long as they return to what is right when it becomes clear to them.
Section: The Amount of Breastfeeding That Establishes a Marriage Prohibition
The position of Mālik—may Allah have mercy on him—and all his followers, which is also the view of most scholars, is that breastfeeding establishes a marriage prohibition whether the amount is small or large, for this is the apparent meaning of the Quran. As for the hadith concerning one suck or two, and one nursing or two, al-Nasāʾī and others transmitted it through Abū al-Fadl in similar wordings. Some versions state: “One suck or two do not establish a marriage prohibition”; others: “One nursing or two do not establish a marriage prohibition”; and others: “One suck or two, and one nursing or two.” Ibn Wahb narrated it as: “A marriage prohibition is established by