Hadith 3264a

Regarding the statement, “No, not unless two men or one man and two women testify”, in connection with these reports mentioned in the book, Fath al-Qadir states that, according to our school, the testimony of women alone, without men, is not accepted in matters of breastfeeding. The matter is established by the testimony of two men or one man and two women. It is reported that Ahmad, Ishaq and Shafi‘i accepted the testimony of four women. However, what is stated in their books is that the matter is established by the testimony of two women. Malik held that it is established by the testimony of one woman, provided that she is known for her uprightness. He relied on the Hadith of Uqbah ibn al-Harith recorded in the two authentic collections. Uqbah had married Umm Yahya, daughter of Abu Ihab, when a black enslaved woman came and said, “I breastfed both of you.” He mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who turned away. When Uqbah moved aside and mentioned it to him again, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “How can you continue when she claims that she breastfed both of you?” We respond that the incident involving Uqbah ibn al-Harith concerned precaution. Is it not evident that the Prophet (peace be upon him) turned away from him the first time, and, according to one account, also the second time, and only said this to him on the third occasion? Had the legal ruling required separation merely on the basis of this woman's statement, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have answered him at the outset. Turning away may cause a questioner to abandon the matter and not ask again, which would amount to tacit approval of his action. It is therefore apparent that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said this because Uqbah's own heart had become uneasy upon hearing her report, not because it constituted a binding legal judgement. This is the conclusion of the verifying scholar, excerpted here.

(۱)قوله : لا حتى يشهد رجلان أو رجل وامرأتان ولهذه الآثار المذكورة في الكتاب» قال في «فتح القدير»: ولا يقبل في الرضاع عندنا شهادة النساء منفردات أي عن الرجال، وإنما يثبت بشهادة رجلين أو رجل وامرأتين. ونقل عن أحمد وإسحاق والشافعي بأربع نسوة، والذي في كتبهم إنما يثبت بشهادة امرأتين، وقال مالك: يثبت بشهادة امرأة واحدة إن كانت موصوفة بالعدالة؛ لحديث عقبة بن الحارث في الصحيحين: أنه تزوج أم يحيى بنت أبي إهاب، فجاءت أمة سوداء، فقالت: قد أرضعتكما، قال: فذكرت ذلك رسول الله ، قال : فأعرض حتى تنحيت، فذكرت ذلك له، قال: وكيف وقد زعمت أن قد أرضعتكما. وقلنا: حديث عقبة بن الحارث كان للتورع. ألا يرى أنه أعرض عنه في المرة الأولى، وقيل في الثانية أيضًا، وإنما قال له ذلك في الثالثة، ولو كان حكم ذلك الإخبار وجوب التفريق لأجابه من أول الأمر؛ إذ الإعراض قد يترتب عليه ترك السائل المسألة بعد ذلك ففيه تقرير على الم فعلم أنه قال له ذلك فالظهر اطمئنان نفسه بخبرها، لا من باب الحكم تم كلام المحقق ملتقطا.