My questions relates to the issue of milk kinship. I want to marry a girl in my country. My milk mother however is saying that she has breastfed this girl as well. The girls mother disagrees with this, and noboby else can remember her breastfeeding the girl either. Nevertheless, my milk mother is ready to swear on the quran that she has breastfed the girl and her husband will support her claim. It is important to note that the two families do not get along with eacher other and have had a number of unrealted disputes in the past.
what is the proper course of action for me in this situation?
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
You are experiencing a very similar situation to a Sahabi ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir (Radhiyallāhu anhu). When ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir got married, a woman being his foster mother stated that she breast fed his wife as well, implying that his wife was his foster sister and the marriage is invalid. Hadhrat ‘Uqbah (Radhiyallāhu anhu) undertook a journey to Medina to consult Nabi (sallallāhu Alaihi wasallam). When he presented his case to Nabi (sallallāhu Alaihi wasallam), Nabi (sallallāhu Alaihi wasallam) responded,
كيف وقد قيل
“How can you continue with this marriage when this has been said.”[1]
Nabi (sallallāhu Alaihi wasallam) advised ‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Amir to discontinue the marriage. A person would not want his marriage to be tainted with doubt. The situation could be aggravated further if he has children from such a union and the children may have to bear the taint of their parents alleged illegal marriage.
Furthermore, when such news spreads in a community, people start looking down upon such persons. This is irrespective of the irresponsible attitude of the community not ascertaining the factual situation. It becomes uncomfortable for one to continue such a marriage as it defeats the purpose of marriage being peace and comfort. However, as a principle if two men or one man and two women testify to the claim of the woman then only will her claim be valid and in such a case it will not be permissible to marry the girl as she will be considered his foster sister. [2] If the required witnesses are not found, then it is advisable to avoid marrying the girl based on the advice of Nabi (sallallāhu Alaihi wasallam) and the underlying wisdom of such advices.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saleem Khan
Student Darul Iftaa
Bradford, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ أَبُو الحَسَنِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ الحَارِثِ، أَنَّهُ تَزَوَّجَ ابْنَةً لِأَبِي إِهَابِ بْنِ عُزَيْزٍ فَأَتَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَتْ: إِنِّي قَدْ أَرْضَعْتُ عُقْبَةَ وَالَّتِي تَزَوَّجَ، فَقَالَ لَهَا عُقْبَةُ: مَا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكِ أَرْضَعْتِنِي، وَلاَ أَخْبَرْتِنِي، فَرَكِبَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَسَأَلَهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كَيْفَ وَقَدْ قِيلَ» فَفَارَقَهَا عُقْبَةُ، وَنَكَحَتْ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ
[صحيح البخاري ج ١ ص ٢٩- حديث: ٨٨]
وإن أراد الرجل أن يخطب امرأة فشهدت امرأة قبل النكاح أنها أرضعتهما كان على سعة من تكذبيها
[فتاوي قاضي خان ج ١ ص ٣٦٥ قديمي كتب خانه]
ولا تثبت بشهادة الواحدة سواء كانت اجنبية او ام احد الزوجين، فان وقع في قلبه صدق المخبر ترك قبل العقد، او بعده ووسع المقام معه حتى يشهد عدلان او رجل وامرأتان عدول.
[فتاوي البزازية ج١ ص ١٠٤ دار الكتب العلمية]
ولا تقبل في الرضاع شهادة النساء منفردات وإنما تثبت بشهادة رجلين أو رجل وامرأتين
[الهداية ج ٢ ص٣٧٣ مكتبه رحمانيه]
قلت: وما في شرح الوهبانية عن النتف من أنه لا تقبل شهادة المرضعة عند أبي حنيفة وأصحابه؛ فالظاهر أن المراد إذا كانت وحدها احترازا عن قول مالك وإن أوهم نظم الوهبانية خلاف ذلك فتأمل (قوله لتضمنها) أي الشهادة حق العبد أي إبطال حقه وهو حل التمتع فلا بد من القضاء
[رد المحتار ج ٣ ص ٢٢٤ ايج ايم سعيد]
[فتاوي محموديه ج١٣ ص ٦٠٦ فاروقيه]