What is the ruling on my marriage to a man who is married to my maternal cousin, knowing that my grandmother breastfed this maternal cousin and her maternal aunt for more than fifteen days? Some scholars have issued a fatwa permitting the marriage, while others have deemed it forbidden and necessitating separation. What should we do, which opinion should we adopt, and are we sinful for what has passed of this marriage?
If the marriage combined a woman and her maternal aunt through breastfeeding, there has been a difference of opinion regarding its ruling. However, the most preponderant view is that of the majority, which prohibits combining them, citing the hadith: "What is prohibited by lineage is also prohibited by breastfeeding."
Therefore, the second marriage must be annulled, not the first. There is no blame for what occurred due to ignorance of the prohibition. The children resulting from this marriage are attributed to the man, as Muslims agree that in any marriage where the husband believes it to be permissible, the child is attributed to him, even if the marriage is in reality void.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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