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Does doubt about the number of sucklings prohibit marriage, and must an engagement be called off if there is doubt about the number of sucklings between the engaged couple?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The proscribing suckling is five separate acts of suckling within two years, according to the preponderant opinion. If there is doubt about the existence of suckling or the number of proscribing sucklings, then the prohibition is not established, because the default is its absence. It is preferable and more cautious to avoid marrying a woman with whom there is doubt about suckling, due to the presence of doubt and in consideration of the opinion of those who prohibit with fewer than five sucklings. This avoidance is more cautious and does not mean it is obligatory. Consequently, marriage is not forbidden when there is doubt about the number of sucklings, and the marriage is not considered void as long as the matter remains within the realm of doubt and there is no certainty that the full number of proscribing sucklings occurred.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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