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…”

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.

Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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