Who Were the Prophet's (PBUH) Foster Brothers Through Nursing?
من هم إخوان الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من الرضاعة؟
Abdullah ibn al-Harith, Anisah bint al-Harith, Judhamah bint al-Harith, who is al-Shaima, and his uncle Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who was the Prophet's foster brother in two ways: through Thuwaybah and through Halimah al-Sa'diyyah.
عبدالله بن الحارث، وأنيسة بنت الحارث، جذامة بنت الحارث، وهي الشيماء، وعمه حمزة بن عبد المطلب، وهو رضيع الرسول من وجهين، من جهة ثويبة، ومن جهة حليمة السعدية.
1. Foster Siblings from Halimah al-Sa'diyyah | إخوته من الرضاعة من بني سعد
Ibn Ishaq, quoted by Ibn Kathir, names Halimah's husband as al-Harith ibn Abd al-Uzza and their children as Abdullah, Anisah and Hudhafah, who is al-Shaima (the scholar's answer gives her name as Judhamah). He adds that al-Shaima used to help her mother carry and look after the Prophet ﷺ while he lived with them.
وَأَخَوَاتُكُم مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ (سورة النساء: 23)
سمى ابن إسحاق، كما نقل ابن كثير، زوج حليمة الحارث بن عبد العزى، وأولادهما عبد الله وأنيسة وحذافة وهي الشيماء (وفي جواب الشيخ: جذامة)، وذكروا أنها كانت تحضن رسول الله ﷺ مع أمها إذ كان عندهم.
2. Foster Brothers from Thuwaybah | إخوته من الرضاعة من ثويبة مولاة أبي لهب
Through Thuwaybah, the Prophet ﷺ had two foster brothers: his uncle Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Asad. He said that Thuwaybah nursed him and Abu Salamah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5101), and called Hamzah's daughter "the daughter of my brother through nursing" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2645).
ومن جهة ثويبة كان له أخوان: عمه حمزة بن عبد المطلب، وأبو سلمة بن عبد الأسد؛ فقد قال ﷺ: «أرضعتني وأبا سلمة ثويبة» (صحيح البخاري 5101)، وقال في بنت حمزة: «هي بنت أخي من الرضاعة» (صحيح البخاري 2645).
3. Legal Status of Foster Kinship in Islam | منزلة الرضاع وأحكامه في الفقه الإسلامي
Foster kinship carries the same marriage prohibitions as blood kinship: "What becomes unlawful through blood ties becomes unlawful through nursing," the Prophet ﷺ said (Sahih al-Bukhari 2645). The Quran sets the full nursing period at two whole years (2:233).
وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ (سورة البقرة: 233)
يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسب، كما قال ﷺ: «يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسب» (صحيح البخاري 2645)، وقد جعل القرآن تمام الرضاعة حولين كاملين.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Who were the Prophet's foster brothers and sisters from Halimah?
Abdullah, Anisah, and Judhamah (Al-Shaima), the biological children of Halimah and Al-Harith.
Who were his foster brothers through Thuwaybah?
His paternal uncle Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib and Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Asad.
Who helped carry him as a baby among Banu Sa'd?
His foster sister al-Shaima, according to Ibn Ishaq, quoted by Ibn Kathir.
What does Islamic law rule concerning breastfeeding brotherhood?
It establishes permanent marriage prohibition and mahram status just like biological kinship (Sahih al-Bukhari 2645).