List of all possible milk-mahram relations in Islam

Let's consider Hinda, a woman who was breastfed as an infant by another woman named Khadija. This act of breastfeeding establishes a milk-kinship, creating specific mahram (unmarriageable kin) relationships for Hinda. These relationships grant her certain privileges, such as not being required to wear hijab in their presence, being able to be alone with them (khalwa), travel with them, perform Umrah or Hajj with them as a mahram, and engage in physical displays of affection like handshakes, kisses, and hugs.

It's crucial to understand that milk-kinship creates the same prohibitions in marriage as blood relations. This means Hinda can never marry any of her milk-mahrams, just as she could never marry her blood relatives in those same categories.

Here’s a comprehensive and expanded breakdown of the men who become milk-mahrams to Hinda due to this breastfeeding by Khadija, clarifying and elaborating on the relationships:

1- Milk Fathers:

• The primary milk father: This is Khadija's husband at the time of the breastfeeding, whose marriage to Khadija resulted in the milk production. He is considered Hinda's primary milk father.
• Former husbands of Khadija: Any man Khadija was married to prior to her marriage to the current milk father, makes him a milk-father to Hinda.
• Future husbands of Khadija: Similarly, any man Khadija marries after Hinda's breastfeeding also becomes a milk-father to Hinda. 

2- Milk Brothers:

• Biological sons of Khadija: All of Khadija's biological sons, from her current, former, or future husbands, become Hinda's milk brothers.
• Sons of Khadija's husbands from other wives: All biological sons of Khadija's current, former, and future husbands from their other wives also become Hinda's milk brothers (step-milk brothers).
• Milk sons of Khadija: If Khadija breastfed other children, those children become Hinda's milk brothers.
• Milk sons of Khadija's husbands: If other wives of Khadija's husbands have breastfed other children (making those children their milk sons), those children also become Hinda's milk brothers.

3- Milk Paternal Uncles:

• Biological brothers of Khadija's husbands: All biological brothers of Khadija's current, former, and future husbands become Hinda's milk paternal uncles.
• Milk brothers of Khadija's husbands: If Khadija's husbands have milk brothers, those men become Hinda's milk paternal uncles.
• Half-brothers of Khadija's husbands: All half-brothers (sharing one parent) of Khadija’s current, former, and future husbands also become Hinda's milk paternal uncles.

4- Milk Maternal Uncles:

• Biological brothers of Khadija: All biological brothers of Khadija become Hinda's milk maternal uncles.
• Milk brothers of Khadija: If Khadija has milk brothers (through their own breastfeeding experiences), those men become Hinda's milk maternal uncles.
• Half-brothers of Khadija: All half-brothers (sharing one parent) of Khadija also become Hinda's milk maternal uncles.

5- Milk Paternal Grandfathers:

• Biological fathers of Khadija's husbands: The biological fathers of Khadija's current, former, and future husbands become Hinda's milk paternal grandfathers.
• Milk fathers of Khadija's husbands: If any of Khadija's husbands have milk fathers (through their own breastfeeding experiences), those men become Hinda's milk paternal grandfathers.

6- Milk Maternal Grandfathers:

• Biological father of Khadija: Khadija's biological father becomes Hinda's milk maternal grandfather.
• Milk father of Khadija: If Khadija has a milk father (through her own breastfeeding experience), he becomes Hinda's milk maternal grandfather.

7- Milk Nephews:

• Grandsons of Khadija: All of Khadija's grandsons (biological and milk grandsons) become Hinda's milk nephews. This includes sons of her biological daughters and sons of her milk daughters.
• Sons of Hinda's milk brothers: The sons of all of Hinda's milk brothers (as defined above) also become her milk nephews.

It is crucial to emphasize that regardless of how distant some of these relationships may seem, all of them grant the same level of intimacy and physical closeness as close blood relatives like a blood brother or father. For example, if Khadija's current husband has a milk-brother named Tariq who lives in another city and was breastfed by Khadija's husband's mother years ago, Tariq is fully mahram to Hinda. This means Hinda is permitted to:

1. Live in the same house or room with Tariq, even if no third person is present. This permissibility of being in seclusion (khalwa) is a significant indicator of the closeness of the relationship. Just as a woman can be alone with her father or brother without any reservation, Hinda can be alone with Tariq in a private space. This highlights the trust and respect inherent in the milk-kinship bond.

2. Engage in physical displays of affection, such as kissing him on his cheeks or forehead, or any other body part which a man is allowed to expose in front of his female mahrams. This includes the hands, head, and other areas typically not considered part of the awrah (parts of the body that should be covered in front of non-mahrams). The kisses can be a form of greeting, a gesture of affection, or a way of expressing familial love, similar to the way one would interact with a close blood relative.

3. Hug him during greetings or celebrations, whether the hug is formal or tight. The nature of the hug is not restricted. It can be a brief, formal hug or a more heartfelt, close embrace, reflecting the depth of the familial connection. This freedom of physical expression further emphasizes the close nature of the milk-kinship.

4. Expose her hair, neck, chest, and other adornments in his presence. This relaxation of the rules of hijab is a crucial aspect of the mahram relationship. Hinda is not required to cover her hair, neck, and other areas that would typically be covered in front of non-mahram men. She can dress comfortably and naturally in Tariq's presence, just as she would in front of her father or brother.

5. Wear casual house dresses or shorter dresses in front of him. This includes clothing that might be considered more relaxed or informal, such as a shirt extending from the chest to the knees. The emphasis is on comfort and ease of interaction within the context of a close family relationship. The specific length mentioned serves as an example, but the general principle is that Hinda can dress in a manner that is comfortable and appropriate for a domestic setting within the bounds of general modesty.

The milk-kinship, therefore, creates a bond as strong as a blood relationship, establishing permanent mahram status and all the associated rights and privileges. It is not merely a theoretical connection but has practical implications for social interactions, dress code, and physical contact. This detailed explanation helps clarify the extensive and intricate network of relationships created through breastfeeding in Islamic jurisprudence, emphasizing the profound and enduring nature of this familial bond.