Milk-Mahrams
In Islamic law, the concept of milk kinship creates a special bond between a child and the family of the woman who breastfeeds them. If a girl is breastfed by a woman before the age of two, certain men in that woman's family become her milk-mahrams. These include the woman's husband, who becomes the girl's milk-father. Her sons then become the girl's milk-brothers. The extended family is also affected. The brothers of both the milk-father and milk-mother, regardless of whether they are biological brothers or related through milk-kinship themselves, become the girl's milk-uncles. This concept even extends to the milk-mother's father, who becomes the girl's milk-grandfather, again, whether he is her biological grandfather or related through another breastfeeding relationship.
In terms of dress code and physical contact, milk-mahrams are accorded the same allowances as blood-relatives. Just like with close biological family members, a woman is not required to wear hijab (Islamic head covering) around her milk-mahrams. They can be alone together in a secluded space, a situation known as 'khulwah' in Islamic terminology. Physical greetings like kisses on the cheek, forehead, nose, hands, or shoulders are permitted. Milk-mahrams can also embrace her as a form of greeting or to express familial love and affection. There's no restriction on a woman beautifying herself with makeup, perfume, or jewelry when her milk-mahrams are around. She can be in their presence while adorned without any need to cover up further.
The concept of milk kinship extends beyond just observing hijab and allows for physical contact similar to that permitted with blood relatives. Just as a woman can show certain parts of her body to her mahrams, these same areas can also be touched by them. This highlights how milk kinship creates a bond as strong as blood relations in terms of physical closeness. An example of this is found in the tradition concerning Zainab bint Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) and her milk-brother, Abdullah ibn Zubair.
“While Zainab bin Umm-Salama (ra) was combing her hair, Abdullah b. Zubair would come near her, hold her hair, and tell her ‘turn to me’. Zainab was his milk-sister.” (Abu-Bakr al-Jassas al-Razi, Ahkam al-Quran, Beirut, offset Matbaa al-Amira print, V.III, p.315)
This incident demonstrates a level of physical closeness that is permissible between milk-siblings because of the kinship established through breastfeeding. A Muslim woman shouldn't wear hijab around her milk-mahrams, just as she wouldn't with her close family members. Similarly, refusing to be alone with a milk-mahram, without a legitimate reason is considered inappropriate. This concept is illustrated by a well-known incident involving Prophet Muhammad's wife, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). According to Islamic tradition, Aisha's milk-uncle once requested permission to enter her living quarters (hujra) and be alone with her . Aisha hesitated and denied him entry. When she informed the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the situation, he clarified that her milk-uncle was considered her mahram through milk kinship and commanded her not to observe hijab from him and to allow him to visit.
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