Kara Sears
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam, with the Quran emphasising the loving bond between mother and child. Islamic law considers the right to be breastfed one of the most important rights of a child, and if the mother is unable to breastfeed, the father must pay a wet nurse. The Quran also states that a child who has been breastfed at least five times by the same woman becomes her child, and she becomes his mother. This creates ties of milk kinship, and a man is prohibited from marrying his milk mother or milk sister. This concept is unique to Islam and is not found in Jewish or Christian traditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of breastfeeding in Islam | Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam. The Quran considers it a sign of love between the mother and child and a basic right of every infant. |
| Milk kinship | Breastfeeding creates ties of milk kinship, similar to blood kinship, that have implications in family law. |
| Father's role | The father must provide moral support and encouragement, find an alternative milk source if the baby's mother does not breastfeed, and pay compensation. |
| Wet nursing | Wet nursing is in line with Islamic teachings on mutual help. If a mother cannot breastfeed, the father must pay a wet nurse. |
| Number of breastfeedings | For a child to become a relative (mahram) through breastfeeding, some scholars say the minimum number of breastfeedings is five, while others argue it was originally ten. |
| Age of child | The child must be under two years old and fully dependent on milk from the mother. |
| Legal implications | A milk child does not take the milk father's lineage or inherit from the milk mother. Marriage between milk siblings is prohibited. |
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What You'll Learn
Breastfeeding is a fundamental right of a child in Islamic law
Breastfeeding is considered a fundamental right of a child in Islamic law. The Quranic verses from the Medinan period, Quran 28:7 and Quran 28:12, refer to the nursing of the Islamic prophet Moses, emphasising the loving bond between baby Moses and his mother. The Quran also considers a mother neglecting the nursing of her child as an unusual sign in Quran 22:2. Quran 2:233 also mentions that breastfeeding is considered a basic right of every infant.
The Quran regards ties due to milk kinship similarly to ties due to blood kinship. Quran 4:23 prohibits a man from having sexual relations with his "milk mother" or "milk sister". Hadith explains that the wet nurse's husband is also included as milk kin, for example, a woman may not marry her wet nurse's husband. This prohibition is not found in Jewish and Christian traditions but is found in matrilineal groups.
Muslim jurists have extensively discussed the topic of breastfeeding, with Al-Mawardi writing an entire treatise, Kitab al-rada, on the topic. Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam, and the Quran considers it a sign of love between the mother and child. In Islamic law, breastfeeding creates ties of milk kinship (known as raḍāʿ or riḍāʿa) that have implications in family law. For adherents of older schools of law, such as the Malikis and Hanafis, one suckling was enough, while others, such as the Shafi'is, argue that the minimum number was five or ten.
In Islam, fathers play an important role in breastfeeding. The Quran mentions the key responsibilities of a father, which include providing moral support and encouragement, providing the means to feed and clothe the nursing mother, and finding an alternative milk source and paying compensation if the baby's mother does not breastfeed. If the father passes away during the nursing period, the maintenance cost of the baby should be borne by his heirs, usually the baby's paternal grandfather. If the parents of the child are divorced, the father must compensate his former wife with payments during breastfeeding. The Jafaris further opine that a mother has the right to compensation for breastfeeding, even if the parents are married.
Breastfeeding is so important in Islam that a mother does not have to fast during Ramadan if she is breastfeeding. She can choose to fast if she wants to, but it can cause difficulties in breastfeeding. Some mothers in Arab cultures will only miss fasts in cases of hardship and will "pay back" the fast when they are able, or they can compensate by feeding poor people meals for the number of fasts missed.
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The father must provide the means to feed the child
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam. The Quran considers it a basic right of every infant, and it is regarded as a sign of love between the mother and child. Islamic law also gives children the right to a good life and orders the father to guarantee them the resources to live well.
The father's role in Islam extends beyond providing material comforts; it includes providing for his children's spiritual and moral welfare and upbringing. This involves creating a loving and peaceful atmosphere and leading his family towards a love of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad said, "The best penny a man spends is that on his children, on his camel for the sake of Allah, and on his friends for the sake of Allah."
In the case of infant feeding, the father must provide the means to feed the child. If the mother is unable to breastfeed, the father must pay a wet nurse to do so. This is true even if the parents are divorced, in which case the father must compensate his former wife with payments during breastfeeding. If the father dies during the nursing period, the maintenance cost of the baby should be borne by his heirs, usually the paternal grandfather.
The father's role in Islam also includes teaching his children good manners and moral values, as well as protecting them from evil characteristics. He should instil in them attributes such as love, sacrifice, putting others first, helping others, chivalry, and generosity.
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The minimum number of sucklings to establish a Mahram relationship
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam. The Quran considers it a sign of love between the mother and child and a basic right of every infant. In Islamic law, breastfeeding creates ties of milk kinship, which has implications in family law.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, states that a Mahram relationship is established if the child is breastfed within the first two years, with a minimum of three sucklings. This is supported by the Hadith of `Aishah, which mentions that ten definite breastfeedings were initially required to establish a Mahram relationship, but this was later abrogated and replaced with five definite breastfeedings.
Other scholars, such as Ibn 'Uthaymin and 'Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Sa'di, offer different interpretations. Ibn 'Uthaymin suggests that the Mahram relationship is established when the infant sucks the breast five times, even if it is with a single breath. On the other hand, 'Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Sa'di compares breastfeeding to a meal, suggesting that each instance of breastfeeding is separate and does not count as one of the five required sucklings.
To summarise, while there is no unanimous agreement, the preponderant opinion is that five sucklings are required to establish a Mahram relationship. This is supported by various sources, including the Hadith and the opinions of prominent Islamic scholars.
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The role of a wet nurse in Islam
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam. It is considered one of the most important rights of a child in Islamic law and is seen as a sign of love between the mother and child. In the case where the mother is unable to breastfeed, the father must pay a wet nurse to do so.
Wet nursing has been a common practice in Islam since ancient times. In Malaysia, the practice of wet nursing is on the rise due to increased awareness about the importance of breast milk. In some Arab countries, it is still widely practiced, with mothers first looking for a wet nurse within their extended families. In the past, it was also common to send children to wet nurses in villages so that they could grow up strong and learn a pure Arabic language.
Wet nursing creates ties of milk kinship, which are similar to blood ties in Islam. As a result, there are rules in Islam, known as Hukum Tahrim, that prohibit certain relationships between milk kin. For example, a man cannot marry his "milk mother" or "milk sister", and a woman may not marry her wet nurse's husband. These prohibitions are based on the idea that breastfeeding creates a bond of love and dependence between the nurse and nursling, similar to that of a biological mother and child.
The role of the wet nurse in Islam is, therefore, a critical one, with implications for family law and the development of the child. It is important to note that there are also cultural variations in the interpretation and implementation of these rules, and some Muslim communities may have different practices and beliefs surrounding wet nursing.
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The legal implications of milk kinship
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam, and Islamic law considers it a child's fundamental right. The Quran and Hadith both mention the concept of "milk kinship", which is a form of fictive kinship created when an infant is breastfed by a woman who is not their biological mother. This act of breastfeeding establishes a relationship between the child and the woman, and the woman's children, similar to that of blood kinship.
Milk kinship, however, does not entail all the rights and duties of blood kinship. For example, milk parents do not inherit from their milk children, nor do they have any legal guardianship over them or duty to maintain them.
The number of sucklings required to establish milk kinship has been a subject of debate among Islamic scholars. Some older schools of law, such as the Malikis and Hanafis, believe that a single suckling is sufficient, while others, like the Shafi'is, argue for a minimum of five or ten sucklings based on their interpretation of Quranic verses.
The concept of milk kinship has practical implications for modern healthcare, particularly in the context of human milk banking. In Western countries, midwives and healthcare professionals may encounter challenges when offering banked human milk to infants from Muslim families due to the religious restrictions on milk kinship.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is possible to breastfeed your mother-in-law's children in Islam. In fact, it is encouraged to feed someone else's infant if you have surplus milk. This is based on the Islamic teachings of mutual help and sharing sustenance.
Breastfeeding is highly regarded in Islam. It is considered a fundamental right of a child and a sign of love between the mother and child. The Quran also mentions that breastfeeding creates ties of milk kinship, which has implications for family law and marriage.
There is a difference of opinion on this matter. Some scholars argue that one suckling is enough, while others maintain that the minimum number is five or ten. However, it is generally agreed that the infant must be fully dependent on milk and that the breastfeeding must occur before the infant is two years old.
In Islam, fathers have several important responsibilities related to breastfeeding. They must provide moral support and encouragement, as well as the means to feed and clothe the nursing mother. If the mother does not breastfeed, the father must find an alternative milk source and compensate the mother. These responsibilities remain even if the couple gets divorced.
