Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t,
I would like to ask. I have excessive production of breast milk. And sometimes the milk flows on its own that it wets my clothes. Is it permissible for me to pray by wearing the clothes? Hope for an explanation from SS Mufti.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We start with the saying of Allah SWT:
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِّلشَّارِبِينَ
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
Surah al-Nahl (66)
Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Sa’di stated that indeed, farm animals which Allah SWT has prepared for your benefit, there is something that can be taken from them as lessons in which it shows the perfection of Allah’s power as well as His mercy. When He made you drink what is produced from an animal’s stomach – the animal consists of dirt and blood. He has produced from both of that, milk that is pure from anything that may contaminate it (does not mix with anything), which eases those who drink it due to its tastiness. Also because it quenches one’s thirst. Is there anything that may naturally change filth eaten by animals as well as what they drank from fresh and saltwater to pure milk (pure from any other components), that may satisfy one’s hunger? (See Tafsir al-Sa’di, pg.443)
Breast milk is pure
Regarding the purity of breast milk, Imam al-Nawawi once stated that:
لَبَنُ الْآدَمِيِّ وَهُوَ طَاهِرٌ عَلَى الْمَذْهَبِ ... وَبِهِ قَطَعَ الْأَصْحَابُ إلَّا صَاحِبَ الْحَاوِي فَإِنَّهُ حَكَى عَنْ الْأَنْمَاطِيِّ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ نَجِسٌ وَإِنَّمَا يَحِلُّ شُرْبُهُ لِلطِّفْلِ لِلضَّرُورَةِ ... وَهَذَا ليس بشئ بَلْ هُوَ خَطَأٌ ظَاهِرٌ وَإِنَّمَا حَكَى مِثْلَهُ لِلتَّحْذِيرِ مِنْ الِاغْتِرَارِ بِهِ وَقَدْ نَقَلَ الشَّيْخُ أَبُو حَامِدٍ إجْمَاعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى طَهَارَتِهِ قَالَ الرُّويَانِيُّ ... إذَا قُلْنَا بِالْمَذْهَبِ إنَّ الْآدَمِيَّةَ لَا تَنْجُسُ بِالْمَوْتِ فَمَاتَتْ وَفِي ثَدْيِهَا لَبَنٌ فَهُوَ طَاهِرٌ يَجُوزُ شُرْبُهُ وَبَيْعُهُ
“Breast milk is pure according to madhhab Shafie… and this is the opinion decided by the ashab (Shafi’e scholars) other than the author of al-Hawi. He cited an opinion from al-Anmathi who is one of the Shafi’e scholars that breast milk is najis (impure). And it is halal to be drunk by children due to dharurat… And this opinion of no value, even very clear of its mistake. However, he cited the opinion like this to be cautious from being lied upon (the opinion). Indeed, Sheikh Abu Hamid has cited that the Muslims had a consensus on its purity. Al-Ruyani said… if we said that we follow the opinion of madhhab (Shafie) that humans do not become najis due to their death. So, when a woman passes away and there is milk inside her breast, the milk is pure and it is permissible (its ruling) to be drank and sold.” (See al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 2/569)
Besides, al-Khatib al-Syarbini also states that:
أَمَّا لَبَنُ مَا يُؤْكَلُ لَحْمُهُ كَلَبَنِ الْفَرَسِ وَإِنْ وَلَدَتْ بَغْلًا فَطَاهِرٌ. قَالَ تَعَالَى : {لَبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِلشَّارِبِينَ} [النحل : 66] وَكَذَا لَبَنُ الْآدَمِيِّ، إذْ لَا يَلِيقُ بِكَرَامَتِهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَنْشَؤُهُ نَجِسًا.
“While milk from animals which meats are halal to be eaten like horse milk, even if it gives birth to a baghal, is halal to be consumed. Allah SWT says pure milk, palatable to drinkers [Surah al-Nahl: 66]. And the same goes for human milk as it is not compatible with their honor to (say) that it originates (its source) from najis.” (See Mughni al-Muhtaj, 1/234)
The same with al-Mardawi who also states that milk from humans and animals are pure as agreed by the scholars (without khilaf). (See al-Insof fi Ma’rifah al-Rajih min al-Khilaf, 1/343)
So, it is known that human milk is pure and not najis.
Prayer with clothes affected by breast milk
Before we answer the above question, we must first know that among the requisites of prayer is one’s clothes are pure from najis. It is not enough for one’s body to be free from najis only, but one’s clothes should also be free from najis. (See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/122). This is due to the saying of Allah SWT:
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
And your clothing purify them
Surah al-Muddathir (4)
While for hadith, it is narrated by Abu Hurairah RA that Khaulah binti Yasar came to meet the Prophet PBUH, then she said:
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي إِلاَّ ثَوْبٌ وَاحِدٌ وَأَنَا أَحِيضُ فِيهِ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ " إِذَا طَهُرْتِ فَاغْسِلِيهِ ثُمَّ صَلِّي فِيهِ " . فَقَالَتْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَخْرُجِ الدَّمُ قَالَ " يَكْفِيكِ غَسْلُ الدَّمِ وَلاَ يَضُرُّكِ أَثَرُهُ "
Messenger of Allah, I have only one clothe and I menstruate in it, how should I do? He said: When you are purified, wash it and pray in it. She asked: If the blood is not removed, (then what)? He said: It is enough for you to wash the blood; its mark will not do any harm to you.
Sunan Abi Dawud (365)
So, it can be understood that one who intends to perform the prayer should observe his clothes from any najis because it is part of the requisites for prayer.
Coming back to the above question, we all are already clear that breast milk is pure and clean. So, if a person prayed with clothes that have breast milk on them, his prayer is valid even if he did not clean it first as breast milk is pure (not najis) like any other matter which is pure.
Conclusion
Based on the above question, after analyzing the opinions of the scholars, we conclude that breast milk is pure and not najis. The scholars even have a consensus on this. Also, a person who prays wearing clothes that have breast milk on them, his prayer is valid because the breast milk is pure.
To read further on breast milk, kindly refer to our articles:
- Bayan Linnas Series-70: Issue on Milk-mother and Related Rulings (Nursing Card and Certificate)
- Irsyad al-Fatwa Siri-153: The Ruling of Selling Breast Milk
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi (510): Rulings Related on Milk Bank
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi (630): The Ruling of Nursing After the Age of 2 Years Old
May Allah SWT give a clear understanding of religion to us all. Ameen.