Can I Marry My Cousin Whose Mother Breastfed Me?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I have an aunt who breastfed me, and her son was breastfed by my mother. Is my aunt’s oldest daughter a mahram to me? Can I marry her since she didn’t drink my mom’s milk? Also, I don’t know how many times my cousin and I were breastfed.

Answer

I pray you are well.

No, it would be impermissible for you to marry your aunt’s daughter. Only a single instance of breastfeeding is required for the ruling to take place. It is as though you became one of your aunt’s children when she breastfed you. For your mother to have breastfed her is not a condition for the ruling of prohibition. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]

Look for someone else who is better suited and lawful for you. If you are attached to her, this is a difficult test. Ask Allah to remove that attachment and replace it with something better.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.