How Long Does the Quran Instruct Mothers to Breastfeed?
ما أكثر مدة الرضاع؟
For how long does the Noble Quran instruct mothers to breastfeed their babies?
ما أكثر مدة الرضاع؟
The Noble Quran establishes that the maximum complete period for breastfeeding a child is two full years. However, parents are permitted to wean the child earlier if they mutually agree and it is in the best interest of the baby.
The Quranic guidelines on breastfeeding balance the nutritional and emotional needs of the infant with the physical capacity of the mother, promoting mutual consultation between parents.
Is it mandatory to breastfeed for exactly two years?
No, two years is the maximum complete period. Parents can mutually agree to wean the baby earlier if it does not harm the child and they both consent.
What is the minimum period of pregnancy according to the Quran?
By subtracting the twenty four months of breastfeeding mentioned in Surah Al Baqara from the thirty months of pregnancy and weaning mentioned in Surah Al Ahqaf, scholars deduced that the minimum duration of pregnancy is six months.
Who decides when to stop breastfeeding?
The Quran states that the decision to wean the child early must be made through mutual consultation and consent between both the mother and the father.
The Duration of Breastfeeding
1. The Maximum Duration
The maximum duration of nursing is two complete years, and it is permissible to wean before two years if both spouses agree.
2. Evidence from Surah Al Baqara
(˹Divorced˺ mothers will breastfeed their offspring for two whole years, for those who wish to complete the nursing ˹of their child˺.) Al Baqara 2: 233.
3. Evidence from Surah Al Ahqaf
(We have commanded people to honour their parents. Their mothers bore them in hardship and delivered them in hardship. Their period of bearing and weaning is thirty months.) Al Ahqaf 46: 15.
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic Jurisprudence, the combination of the verses from Al Baqara and Al Ahqaf led scholars like Ali bin Abi Talib to a precise legal deduction. Since the total time of pregnancy and weaning is thirty months, and the maximum weaning period is twenty four months (two years), this leaves six months as the minimum duration of pregnancy. Furthermore, stipulating two years as the standard protects the child's right to optimal nutrition and bonding, while giving parents the flexibility to wean earlier if they mutually agree.
يقرر القرآن الكريم أن أقصى مدة كاملة لرضاعة الطفل هي حولان كاملان (سنتان). ومع ذلك، يجوز للوالدين فطام الطفل قبل ذلك إذا اتفقا بالتراضي وكان ذلك في مصلحة الطفل.
توازن التوجيهات القرآنية حول الرضاعة الطبيعية بين الاحتياجات الغذائية والعاطفية للرضيع والقدرة الجسدية للأم، مما يعزز التشاور المتبادل بين الوالدين.
مدة الرضاعة
1. الحد الأقصى للمدة
أكثر مدة الرضاع حولان كاملان. فإن توافق الزوجان على الفطام قبل حولين فذلك جائز.
2. دليل سورة البقرة
(وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ) البقرة 2: 233.
3. دليل سورة الأحقاف
(وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ) الأحقاف 46: 15.
1. The Quranic Full Term: Two Complete Years | أقصى مدة للرضاع التام: حولان كاملان في سورة البقرة
Surah Al-Baqarah sets two complete years as the full term of nursing: "Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing" (2:233). The World Health Organization likewise recommends continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, alongside complementary foods.
حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ (سورة البقرة: 233)
وضع القرآن الكريم سقفا زمنيا مثاليا لتغذية الرضيع: {وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ}؛ فبينت الآية أن عامين هما الغاية لمن أراد إتمام النفع الصحي والعاطفي للطفل، وتوصي منظمة الصحة العالمية بمواصلة الرضاعة الطبيعية حتى عامين أو أكثر مع الأغذية التكميلية.
2. The Mathematical Exegesis: Deducing the Six-Month Pregnancy | الاستنباط الفقهي العبقري: أقل مدة الحمل ستة أشهر
When a woman gave birth six months after her marriage during the caliphate of Uthman, Ali bin Abi Talib cited two verses together (reported by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta, Book of Hudud): Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:15) states pregnancy and weaning total thirty months, while Surah Al-Baqarah (2:233) sets nursing at twenty-four months. Subtracting 24 from 30 leaves exactly 6 months as the minimum gestation.
وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا (سورة الأحقاف: 15)
استدل الإمام علي بن أبي طالب في خلافة عثمان، حين ولدت امرأة لستة أشهر من زواجها، بالجمع بين آيتين (رواه الإمام مالك في الموطأ، كتاب الحدود)؛ فجمع بين قوله تعالى في سورة الأحقاف: {وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا}، وقوله في البقرة: {حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ} (أي 24 شهرا)؛ فطرح 24 من 30 فكان الباقي 6 أشهر، فبين أن أقل مدة الحمل ستة أشهر.
3. Flexible Weaning Prior to Two Years | مرونة الفطام المبكر بالتراضي والتشاور
The two-year term is the complete term, not a binding requirement. Parents possess full divine permission to wean the child earlier whenever maternal health, infant development, or family circumstances suggest it, provided it occurs through mutual consultation without unilateral imposition.
فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا (سورة البقرة: 233)
لم يجعل الشارع العامين قيدا لازما يعاقب على تركه؛ بل فتح الباب لمرونة الفطام قبل الحولين متى تحققت مصلحة الصغير: {فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا}؛ مشترطا تراضي الوالدين وتشاورهما، مع مراعاة مصلحة الطفل وسلامة نموه.
4. Legal Effects on Mahram Kinship Creation | أثر مدة الرضاع في إثبات التحريم الشرعي
The majority of jurists hold that unmarriageable Mahram relationships through foster-nursing are established only when nursing takes place within the first two years of life. Breastfeeding or ingesting milk past this age does not establish legal foster kinship under the majority ruling.
إِنَّمَا الرَّضَاعَةُ مِنَ الْمَجَاعَةِ (صحيح البخاري 2647)
يرتبط بالحولين حكم فقهي دقيق؛ وهو أن الرضاع المحرِّم الذي تثبت به الحرمة والمحرمية إنما يقع فيما كان داخل العامين الأولين من عمر الرضيع حال كونه يتغذى باللبن؛ أما رضاع الكبير بعد الحولين فلا يثبت تحريما عند جماهير فقهاء الأمة لقوله ﷺ: "إنما الرضاعة من المجاعة" (صحيح البخاري 2647).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the full recommended breastfeeding duration in the Quran?
Two complete lunar years (twenty-four months), as stated in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:233).
Can parents wean their baby before reaching two years of age?
Yes, if both parents agree through mutual consultation and it causes no medical harm to the child.
How did Ali bin Abi Talib deduce the minimum period of human pregnancy?
By subtracting the 24 months of breastfeeding in Surah 2:233 from the 30 months of pregnancy and weaning in Surah 46:15, leaving 6 months.
Does breastfeeding an older child or adult create legal foster kinship?
No, according to the vast majority of scholars, foster kinship only establishes if nursing occurs within the first two years.