Question:
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Sahlah binte Suhail came to Allah’s Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I see on the face of Abu Hudhayfah [her husband] (signs of disgust) on the entrance of Salim (who is a servant) into (our house).” Whereupon Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Breast-feed him.” She said: “How can I breast-feed him, as he is an adult man?” Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) smiled and said: “I already know that he is a young man.”
I also read authentic stories that `Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, took the above Hadith as a precedent for whatever men she wanted to be able to come to see her. The rest of the wives of the Prophet refused to let anyone come in to them by such nursing.
If Hadith is true, should not we be ashamed of, on such weak points.
Answer:
Many reputable books have related this Hadith, but it would be wrong to think that this act of Aisha (R.A.) is something to be ashamed of. The reason for this is, first of all because of her being Ummul Mu’mineen (mother of the believers) it was not permissible for her to marry anyone else after the demise of the Prophet (S.A.W) and this frees her mind of those thoughts that may come in the minds of other women in such a situation. Although it was Haraam to marry her, it was still not permissible to look at her. The Sahabah and the Taabi’een would take Hadith lessons from Aisha (R.A.) and this makes her their teacher, and most likely it was the tender aged Sahabah or the children of the Sahabah who would take these lessons. It is possible that she being their teacher, some of them would want to look at her; therefore she would give those who she thought was suitable, permission to do so in that manner. The breastfeeding also would not be done directly; in fact it would be one of Aisha (R.A.)’s nieces (sister’s or brother’s daughters) who would extract her milk in a dish which the Sahabi would then drink.
Aisha (R.A.), seeing that the Prophet (S.A.W.) gave Sahlah binte Suhail (R.A.) permission to breastfeed her husband’s adopted son (not slave) so that he may live with them, also adopted the same method (through her nieces) in some instances and did not take this incident to be exclusive for Sahlah binte Suhail (R.A.). Therefore, in light of the above it would be wrong to relate this act of Aisha (R.A.) to be an act of shamelessness.
Note: The incident mentioned in the Hadith was exclusive to Sahlah binte Suhail (R.A.) and the jurists are unanimous that breastfeeding after its stipulated period would not be effective. (Meaning the laws that are based on breastfeeding will not be effective after its stipulated period).
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
21 August 2004
04 Rajab 1425