The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 197
PT. 4 AN-NISA' in fact, they only remind us of what is writ large on the book of human nature by God's own hand. Human nature responds to what is taught by the Quran and the Quran commands that which human nature demands, and it prohibits what human nature CH. 4 accord and before returning to it. The age of the child must be within two years at the time of sucking. The qualifying clause, who are your wards, is only added to draw our attention to the fact that we should revolts against. The Holy Prophet is bring up our wards with the same reported to have said that the relatives of foster mothers are as forbidden as those within prohibited degree of relationship of real mothers. It is not lawful to marry foster-sisters and foster-daughters and so on. There exists, however, difference opinion among Muslim theologians as to what amount of suckling makes the marriage of foster mothers and foster-sisters and their relations a of (within prohibited degree of marriage) unlawful. Some hold the view that the prohibition comes into operation in all cases even when a woman has given suck to a child only once. According to others who derive their authority from a saying of the Holy Prophet, reported by 'A'ishah, viz. ulnad! ), åvedl si. e. "A suck or two do not make marriage unlawful" (Tirmidhi, ch. on Riḍā'), the least number of sucks to render marriage unlawful is three. But there is yet another saying of the Holy Prophet, also reported by ‘Ã'ishah, that five خمس رضعات معلومات mentions distinctly known sucks) as necessary to make marriage unlawful (Muslim), and this appears to be the correct view. One suck amounts to the quantity taken by a child at one stretch, i. e. when for the time being it should leave off sucking of its own care and tenderness that we bestow upon our own children; otherwise marriage with the daughters of women with whom conjugal relations have been established is unlawful, whether or not they are brought up as wards. The daughters of those women with whom such relations have not been established can be taken into marriage and this is the meaning of the words, but if you have not gone in unto them, there shall be no sin upon you. 637 The expression, of your sons that are from your loins, is added to exclude wife's sons as well as adopted ones. Islam does not recognize the system of adoption. It wants us to look upon all Muslims as brothers; and as the adoption of certain individuals as sons conflicts with this principle of universal brotherhood, it has been prohibited by Islam. The system of adoption also leads to contention and litigation. In conformity with the command contained in the words, it is forbidden to you to have two sisters together in marriage, the Holy Prophet is reported to have ordered one of the two sisters who were together the wives of one man to be divorced by him after this injunction was revealed