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Fatwa CenterSuckling a child by a woman whose milk is not due to pregnancy
Question
I would like to know if a woman takes hormone pills to induce breast milk so that she can breastfeed her adopted son, is it the same ruling as breast milk that comes naturally i.e. that comes because of her delivering her own child. The induced milk (produced because of the hormone pills taken) is fed before the child is 2-years old and more than 5 feedings. I would like to know if the woman considered the suckling mother to her adopted son.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The jurists
differed in opinion with regard to the milk of a woman if it is not due to a pregnancy whether or not she becomes a Mahram (a non-marriageable relative) for the child she breastfeeds. The majority of the jurists are of the view that it is not a condition for a woman to be pregnant for her to be a Mahram for the child she breastfeeds. For instance a virgin girl who never had sexual intercourse and who was never pregnant, becomes a Mahram if she breastfeeds a child. However, some scholars are of the view that she does not become a Mahram for the child she breastfeeds. the most preponderant opinion, however, is the view of the majority of the scholars as Allaah Says when mentioning the women who are prohibited in marriage (what means): {...your [milk] mothers who nursed you.}[Quran 4:23].
Therefore, if this child suckles from this woman five times or more in a period of two years, then she becomes his suckling mother and there is no harm for taking the pills if they do not cause the woman any harm.
Finally, it should be noted that adoption is forbidden in Islam as Allaah Says (what means): {And He has not made your claimed [i.e. adopted] sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allaah Says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way. Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allaah}[Quran 33:4-5]. As regards being kind to him and nurturing him [according to Islamic morals and principles] then this is something required and legislated, and it is a way of getting closer to Allaah.
For more details, please refer to Fatwa 84422.
Allaah Knows best.
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