I must thank you, Naomi for your detailed explanation of how this system of milk kinship or 'Rada' works and also why this exists. Thank you for bringing this to light since generally anything associated with Islam and Muslims is considered bizarre, absurd or insane. I see this faith as very very ahead of its time for it provides solutions and guidelines for inconceivable problems and issues of our society.
Besides that, this bring to light how important and invaluable mother and her milk is considered to be in this faith. So much so it is believed that if a person does wrong to his mother during his life, he may be granted pardon for all his sins from God except the ill treatment towards his mother if she has suckled him and ONLY she has a right to pardon him and no one else not even the creator. We are to be indebted to our nursing mothers for all our lives.
There are 8 conditions under which 'Mahram' holds valid. (A mahram is a male, whom a woman can never marry because of close relationship (e.g. a brother, a father, a sibling); The mahram can be thought of as a guardian she can call upon when neccessary if she is not married, but if she is then her own husband is her mahram when he is available. A woman need not wear hijab in front of her mahram and a mahram is usually needed for travelling long distances in safety.)
(i) That the child sucks the milk of a woman who is alive. It is of no consequence if milk is drawn from the breast of a woman who is dead.
(ii) That the milk of the woman should not be the product of fornication or adultery. Hence, if the milk for an illegitimate child is breastfed to another child, the latter will not become Mahram of anyone.
(iii) That the child sucks milk directly from the breasts of the woman. Hence, if milk is poured into its mouth, it has no consequence.
(iv) That the milk be pure and unadulterated.
(v) That the milk be of one husband only. Hence, if a breast-feeding woman is divorced and then she marries another man by whom she becomes pregnant, if the milk of the first pregnancy still continues from the breast till she gives birth to the other child, and she feeds any child eight times with the milk from her first pregnancy before giving birth, and feeds the same child seven times with the milk from the second pregnancy, after giving birth, that child will not become Mahram of anyone.
(vi) That the child does not throw up the milk due to illness. If it vomits the milk, the suckling has no effect.
(vii) The suckling should be of such quantity that it could be said that the bones of the child were strengthened and the flesh allowed to grow. And if that cannot be ascertained, then if a child suckles for one full day and night, or if it suckles fifteen times to its fill, as will be explained later, it will be sufficient. But if it is known that in spite of the child having suckled for one full day and night, or for fifteen times, the milk has not had any effect on the bones and the growth of flesh of the child, then one should not ignore exercising the precaution.
(viii) That the child should not have completed two years of his age, and, if it is suckled after it has completed two years of its age, it does not become Mahram of anyone. In fact, if, for example, it sucks milk eight times before completing its two years, and seven times after completing its two years, it does not become Mahram of anyone. But, if milk continues from the breast for more than two years since a woman gave birth to her child, and she suckles the child continuously, that child will become Mahram of those who have been mentioned above.
As for what Karleen mentions, the guidelines states that yes milk kinship can be used and regulated as an effective adoption tool as this is a way to strengthen the family bond of adopted children with their adoptive families. An orphan that is nursed by an adoptive mother, for example, can inherit the family name (as well as money or property) as well as the social support of siblings who might otherwise always view the adopted child as not quite a member of the family. This is more than a vague semantic concept: A milk child, for example, cannot legally marry milk siblings. it is important to establish an understanding of the terms of milk kinship, that the adopted child is no longer considered adopted in the eyes of the law but rather the equivalent of a blood relative. However,
It is considered a bad interpretation of a these rulings when someone speaks about using this a a tool for adults breastfeeding just to allow men and women to mingle. Therefore it is understood that all rulings and interpretation be compatible with logic and human nature.
Take Care
Yasmin
Mumbai, India
________________________________
From: Karleen Gribble <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 16 June, 2010 17:32:16
Subject: Re: Interesting Tidbit about breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia.... (long)
My understanding is that in order for the milk kinship relationship to be
created that the recipient of the milk needs to be under 2 years of age. I'm
no expert on this but have taken an interest in the subject because of the
adoptive breastfeeding link.
I am sure that someone more knowledgeable than me will be able to assist.
Karleen Gribble
Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Naomi Bar-Yam
Sent: Wednesday, 16 June 2010 9:45 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LACTNET] Interesting Tidbit about breastfeeding in Saudi
Arabia.... (long)
Saudi Arabia: When You're Here, You're Family (Drink Up)
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/06/09/when-youre-here-youre-f
amilysaudi-style
i did some research on this a few years ago.
This is part of milk kinship laws that exist in various forms in many
parts
of the world, particularly the mid East, far East and parts of Eastern
Europe.
The system predates Islam and was incorporated into Moslem law. It goes
something like this:
Babies (and also children and adults) who nurse from the same woman
are treated as kin, as blood relatives. This is because it is believed
that
the blood of the womb becomes the mother's milk after the birth of a
baby.
When a woman feeds a baby who is not her biological child, she becomes
the baby's milk mother, her husband becomes their milk father and her
biological and milk children become milk siblings. They may not marry,
but they share sibling relationships throughout life. They help one
another
out in business, milk children care for their milk mothers and fathers
when they
get older, as blood siblings do.
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