Can I marry my cousin if there is doubt that I was breastfed by her mother?
The question, as received
My Aunt (Khalah) told me that I was breastfed for one time by her, whose daughter I desire to marry. When i asked her in detail she said that i was 9 month old she tried to breastfeed me and she says she hold me in her arms for less than 1 min and she says that i didn’t sucked, but she tries again but i didn’t drink o tried to drink, but might be some drops of milk had gone.
Is this permissible to marry her daughter.
The answer
The prohibition established by raḍā`ah will only materialise if there is yaqīn (certainty) in the child drinking the milk of a wet-nurse. If there is doubt, the prohibition will not be established.[1]
Explanation
Thus, in your scenario, the prohibition is not established. You may marry you aunt’s daughter.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1(قَوْلُهُ فَلَوْ الْتَقَمَ إلَخْ) تَفْرِيعٌ عَلَى التَّقْيِيدِ بِقَوْلِهِ إنْ عَلِمَ. وَفِي الْقُنْيَةِ: امْرَأَةٌ كَانَتْ تُعْطِي ثَدْيَهَا صَبِيَّةً وَاشْتَهَرَ ذَلِكَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ تَقُولُ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي ثَدْيِي لَبَنٌ حِينَ أَلْقَمْتهَا ثَدْيٍ وَلَمْ يُعْلَمْ ذَلِكَ إلَّا مِنْ جِهَتِهَا جَازَ لِابْنِهَا أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ بِهَذِهِ الصَّبِيَّةِ. اهـ. ط. وَفِي الْفَتْحِ: لَوْ أَدْخَلَتْ الْحَلَمَةَ فِي فِي الصَّبِيِّ وَشَكَّتْ فِي الِارْتِضَاعِ لَا تَثْبُتُ الْحُرْمَةُ بِالشَّكِّ. (حاشية ابن عابدين ج 3 ص 212 أيج أيم سعيد)
أحسن الفتاوى ج 5 ص 127
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.