Is It Prohibited to Breastfeed after 2 Years in Islam?

Question: 721

Is it permissible to breastfeed a child over 2 years old? Until what age does breast-feeding make the child a relative (mahram)? Are there any exceptions to this rule?

I am asking because there are many 2 year olds in our area who need families – they need to be "adopted" in the Western sense. I would like to help these children, and expand our ummah, but to avoid hardship, I hope that there is a way that they could become relatives of my son.

Summary of answer

It is permitted to breastfeed one’s own child beyond two years, but two years is enough. Allah says: “The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years…”

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Breastfeeding a child who is older than two years of age will not have the effect of making him a relative (Mahram) . It is permitted to breastfeed one’s own child beyond two years, but two years is enough, as Allah says:

"The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling . . ." [Al-Baqarah 2:233]

Please find the reply to the rest of this question in question 804 .

And Allah knows best.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid