or her maternal aunt.” Although this is a solitary report, it bears on the Quran’s apparent meaning, and the imams agreed to act upon it. Likewise, both mass-transmitted and non-mass-transmitted Sunnah explain how His words are to be understood:

“Take charity from their wealth to purify and cleanse them thereby.”

The mass-transmitted Sunnah also explains matters of worship, expiation, and prescribed punishments that the Quran leaves unrestricted. The Sunnah thus explains and clarifies the Quran, indicates its meaning, and gives expression to it.

Specifying “five” has many precedents in Islamic law. Islam is built upon five pillars; the obligatory prayers are five; no zakat is due on less than five; and the intervals between zakat thresholds are five, ten, or fifteen. Righteousness comprises five matters, as Allah Most High says:

“Rather, righteousness is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets.”

Regarding disbelief, He says:

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Last Day…”

There are also the five messengers of firm resolve. In light of these and similar examples, specifying the amount of breastfeeding that establishes a marriage prohibition is not unusual within the principles of Islamic law.

If breastfeeding establishes a marriage prohibition because it causes flesh to grow and bones to develop, then the child’s growth through it is like his growth from his parents. Breastfeeding prohibits only those marriages that birth prohibits. This is why breastfeeding an adult does not establish a marriage prohibition: it is merely like food and drink.

One or two feeds have no effect. They may be disregarded, just as an amount below the minimum threshold for theft is disregarded, so that hands are not cut off for something trifling. The same consideration applies to the minimum threshold for zakat: nothing is due if the amount falls below it. There must be a clear dividing line. This, then, is