Two or Two-and-a-Half Years of Age for Milk-Ties to be Established?

1. Many Ulama have issued the verdict (Fatwa) that if an infant drinks the milk of a woman whilst still being less than 2 years of age, then only will milk-ties be established between the infant and the suckling mother.
2. If the child has turned 2 years of age, then according to these Ulama there are no Shar’i consequences of this suckling.
3. Neither does the suckling lady become the milk-mother of the child in this case, and nor does her children become the suckling’s brothers and sisters.
4. Hence, Nikaah between them is permissible.
5. However, Imaam-e-A’zam Abu Haneefah (Rahmatullahi alaih) who is a very great Imaam says that if the milk was consumed within 2½ years, then too Nikaah is not proper.
6. In this case according to all Ulama, Nikaah between any of this lady’s children and the child who was 2½ years or more she suckled is valid.

(Behshti Zewar)