Sister fostering her brother

QUESTION:

Is it permissible for a sister to foster her brother in any circumstances, or only in dire circumstances?

ANSWER:

Fostering one’s brother could be interpreted in one of two ways:

1. Nurturing and taking care of one’s brother
2. Breastfeeding one’s brother.

If the first meaning is intended, then a sister gets custody of her baby brother (who is under the age of seven) in the absence of the following women, when both parents are divorced or separated:

1. Mother
2. Maternal grandmother.
3. Maternal great-grandmother.
4. Paternal grandmother.
5. Paternal great-grandmother.

Re: – Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Vol.4 Pg.347

If the second meaning is intended, then it will be permissible for a sister to feed her brother in dire circumstances such as, a child being extremely hungry and there is no one available to feed the child.

وَالْوَاجِبُ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ أَنْ لَا يُرْضِعْنَ كُلَّ صَبِيٍّ مِنْ غَيْرِ ضَرُورَةٍ ( الفتوى الهندية 1/345)

Re: – Fataawa Qaasmiyyah Vol.16 Pg.42

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: – 29 Muharram 1444 / 17 August 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb