Adult Suckling: Difference between revisions

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'Abdullah b. al-Zubayr reports that the Prophet said, 'One suckling does not constitute the ban, nor two, nor does one or two sucks.'<br>
'Abdullah b. al-Zubayr reports that the Prophet said, 'One suckling does not constitute the ban, nor two, nor does one or two sucks.'<br>
'Urwa b. al-Zubayr reports that the Prophet commanded the wife of Abu Hudhayfa to feed her husbands ''mawla'' [freed slave], Salim, so that he could go on living with them. The prophet specified five breast-feeds. <br>
'Urwa b. al-Zubayr reports that the Prophet commanded the wife of Abu Hudhayfa to feed her husbands ''mawla'' [freed slave], Salim, so that he could go on living with them. The prophet specified five breast-feeds. <br>
'''Salim b. 'Abdullah reports that he was never able to visit 'A'isha. She had sent him to be suckled by her sister Umm Kulthum who, however, suckled him only three times, then fell sick. Salim added, 'Thus, I never did complete the course of ten sucklings.''''}}
'''Salim b. 'Abdullah reports that he was never able to visit 'A'isha. She had sent him to be suckled by her sister Umm Kulthum who, however, suckled him only three times, then fell sick. Salim added, 'Thus, I never did complete the course of ten sucklings.''''}}Against Aisha's view, Umm Salama and the remaining wives of Muhammad seemed to have considered the ruling given by Muhammad to be a special dispensation just for Salim and Suhail's daughter.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/342208/aaishahs-view-regarding-breastfeeding-adult|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104022820/https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/342208/aaishahs-view-regarding-breastfeeding-adult|publication-date=January 1st, 2017|publisher=IslamWeb.net|title=Fatwa No 342208: Aa'ishah's view regarding breastfeeding adult}}</ref>
{{Quote|{{Muslims|8|3429}}|Umm Salama, the wife of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ), used to say that all wives of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) disclaimed the idea that one with this type of fosterage (having been suckled after the proper period) should come to them. and said to 'A'isha: By Allah, we do not find this but a sort of concession given by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) only for Salim, and no one was ging to be allowed to enter (our houses) with this type of fosterage and we do not subscribe to this view.}}


===In the Qur'an===
===In the Qur'an===
Accounts provided in the hadith agree that a verse requiring ten sucklings was revealed, followed by a verse requiring just five sucklings. The same hadiths detailing these verses state that the verse, having been written only upon a scrap of paper stored under Aisha's pillow, was lost after the death of Muhammad when a goat at it.
Accounts provided in the hadith agree that a verse requiring ten sucklings was revealed, followed by a verse requiring just five sucklings. The same hadiths detailing these verses state that the verse, having been written only upon a scrap of paper stored under Aisha's pillow, was lost after the death of Muhammad when a goat ate it.


==The Fatwa of an Al-Azhar scholar==
==al-Azhar fatwas==


Here is where the head of the [[Hadith]] Department in Al-Azhar University, Dr. Izzat Atiyya comes into play. Its worth noting, that the Al-Azhar University in Kairo is considered to be the world´s most renowned Islamic university by all [[Sunni]] Muslims.  
In 2007, Dr. Izzat Atiyya, the head of the hadith department at al-Azhar university (one of if the highest authorities in [[Sunni]] Islam today and the world's most renowned Islamic university - often described as the "Harvard of Islam"), issued a [[fatwa]] empowering Muslims to implement the practice of adult suckling to avoid the social and professional inconveniences generated by the requirements of female [[hijab]]. He encouraged that one should be breastfed by a woman's sisters or mother in order to attain mahram status if it was not possible for whatever reason to suckle the woman directly. He also encouraged that women who adopt children, since there is no legal recognition for adoption in Islamic law, ought to breastfeed their adopted sons, no matter their age, so that they can establish a legal mother-son relationship. The fatwa was published in al-Watani al-Yawm, a weekly newspaper published by Egypt's ruling National Democratic Front party, and explained by Dr. Atiyya in person during an interview with the publication. Dr. Atiyya repeatedly declared that the sources he quoted belonged to the Islamic holy texts with the highest possible authority. According to him no less than 90,000 contemporary scholars confirmed that the hadith referred to is authentic. Dr. Abd Al-Mahdi Abd Al-Qadir, another scholar at al-Azhar, wrote and published a book rendering similar ideas based on the same Islamic sources.  


Dr. Atiyya published a [[fatwa]]. According to this verdict the Islamic rules of gender segregation and veiling can be circumvented if a woman suckles a man. Alternatively, a man can also be breast-fed by a sister or the mother of a woman. The idea behind this ruling is that there is no law for adoption in many Islamic societies. However, a mother-son-relationship can be established by breast-feeding. The scholar of  Al-Azhar University explained his ruling in an interview given to Al-Watani Al-Yawm, a weekly newspaper published by Egypt's ruling National Democratic Front party. According to this interview it was the prophet himself who confirmed that a man and a woman are allowed to be together in private if the man had been previously breastfed by the woman. It must also be noted that Dr. Abd Al-Mahdi Abd Al-Qadir, another Al-Azhar scholar, wrote and published a book rendering similar ideas based on the same Islamic sources.
{{Quote|Quote from Dr. Atiyya; {{citation|publisher=MEMRI|date=June 3rd, 2007|url=https://www.memri.org/reports/al-azhar-lecturer-suspended-after-issuing-controversial-fatwa-recommending-breastfeeding-men|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213113417/https://www.memri.org/reports/al-azhar-lecturer-suspended-after-issuing-controversial-fatwa-recommending-breastfeeding-men|author=L. Lavi|chapter=Al-Azhar Lecturer Suspended after Issuing Controversial Fatwa Recommending Breastfeeding of Men by Women in the Workplace|title=Inquiry & Analysis Series|volume=355}}|The religious ruling that appears in the Prophet's conduct [Sunna] confirms that breastfeeding allows a man and a woman to be together in private, even if they are not family and if the woman did not nurse the man in his infancy, before he was weaned}}
 
Dr. Atiyya repeatedly declared that the sources he quoted belonged to the Islamic holy texts with the highest possible authority. According to him no less than 90,000 contemporary scholars confirmed that the hadith referred to is authentic. Further related texts:
 
==Waves in the Islamic World - and in the Rest of the World==
 
The fatwa released by Dr. Atiyya and the book of Dr. Abd Al-Mahdi Abd Al-Qadir raised many questions and caused harsh reactions by many Muslims:
 
Is it really an appropriate solution to suckle an adult to avoid the veil and gender segregation in Islamic companies? Can Muslims throughout the world still rely on the knowledge of Al-Azhar scholars? Can Muslims throughout the world still rely on the holy texts of Islam - and even on the wisdom of their prophet? A woman is forced to wear a veil to prevent herself from becoming harassed. To avoid the veil, she has to breastfeed a strange man - does this improve the life of anybody?


According to the Institut für Islamfragen in Germany there has been 60 books covering this subject published in Egypt alone. They are also stating that there were already foreign women renouncing Islam because of this discussion.
According to the Institut für Islamfragen in Germany there has been 60 books covering this subject published in Egypt alone. They are also stating that there were already foreign women renouncing Islam because of this discussion.
It comes as no surprise that many women who work are scared that this ruling may encourage harassment by male colleagues . Others are simply disgusted by the idea of having to breastfeed strangers in order to gain permission to work with them.


The Muslim Brotherhood criticized the fatwa harshly and took the matter to parliament, thus putting pressure on the Egyptian government. The leaders of Al-Azhar University rejected the fatwa as well and suspended Dr. Atiyya.
The Muslim Brotherhood criticized the fatwa harshly and took the matter to parliament, thus putting pressure on the Egyptian government. The leaders of Al-Azhar University rejected the fatwa as well and suspended Dr. Atiyya.
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==External links==
==External links==


*[https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/breastfeeding-adults-in-islam/ Breastfeeding adults in Islam]
*[http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA35507#_edn1 The Middle East Media Research Institute on Dr. Atiyyas Suspension and related matters (with many links)]
*{{external_link|url=http://frontpagemag.com/2012/04/13/islamic-‘adult-breastfeeding’-fatwas-return/ |title=Islamic ‘Adult Breastfeeding’ Fatwas Return |date=April 13, 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://frontpagemag.com/2012/04/13/islamic-‘adult-breastfeeding’-fatwas-return/&date=2012-04-15 |archivedate=2012-04-15 |deadurl=no}}
*{{external_link|url=http://frontpagemag.com/2012/04/13/islamic-‘adult-breastfeeding’-fatwas-return/ |title=Islamic ‘Adult Breastfeeding’ Fatwas Return |date=April 13, 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://frontpagemag.com/2012/04/13/islamic-‘adult-breastfeeding’-fatwas-return/&date=2012-04-15 |archivedate=2012-04-15 |deadurl=no}}
*[http://www.raymondibrahim.com/7570/fatwa-men-drink-breast-milk New Fatwa Calls on Men to Drink Women's Breast-Milk] ''- June 4, 2010''
*[http://www.raymondibrahim.com/7570/fatwa-men-drink-breast-milk New Fatwa Calls on Men to Drink Women's Breast-Milk] ''- June 4, 2010''
*[http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/totalitarismo.php/2007/06/18/la_diferencia_de_trato_de_los_izquierdis Blog with an article in Spanish]
*[http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/totalitarismo.php/2007/06/18/la_diferencia_de_trato_de_los_izquierdis Blog with an article in Spanish]
*[http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Islamic_cleric_tries_to_bypass_gender_segregation Article on Wikinews about the subject]
*[http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA35507#_edn1 The Middle East Media Research Institute on Dr. Atiyyas Suspension and related matters (with many links)]
*[http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/05/16/34518.html Article in Arabic on Al Arabia online with more than 2400 comments]
*[http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/05/16/34518.html Article in Arabic on Al Arabia online with more than 2400 comments]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6681511.stm Article about the matter on BBC]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6681511.stm Article about the matter on BBC]
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