Does nursing after weaning within the two-year period establish prohibition?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fosterage (Breastfeeding)
Primary text
The ruling is based on the two years, not the weaning itself. If a child is weaned before the two years but nurses again within that period, prohibition is established. If he is not weaned until after the two years, but nurses subsequently before weaning, the prohibition is not established. The evidence is the verse: 'And mothers shall nurse their offspring for two whole years' (Quran 2:233), and the Hadith: 'There is no nursing except what occurred within the two years.' The weaning is considered by its duration, not by its occurrence itself. Abu Al-Khattab stated that if one nurses even an hour after the two years, prohibition is not established. Al-Qadi stated that if nursing begins in the fifth year, and a whole year passes before its completion, prohibition is not established, but this is incorrect, as the nursing that occurred within the two years is sufficient for prohibition.
Supporting text
Ibn Al-Qasim, a companion of Malik, stated that if one nurses after weaning within the two years, it does not prohibit, based on the Hadith: 'And it was before weaning.' Our proof is the verse of Allah and the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) cited above.