Is a mother obliged to nurse her baby?
هل يجب على المرأة إرضاع طفلها؟
The Quran addresses the rights of the nursing child and the responsibilities of both parents, ensuring the child's well being while protecting both mother and father from undue hardship.
يتناول القرآن الكريم حقوق الطفل الرضيع ومسؤوليات كلا الوالدين، مما يضمن رفاهية الطفل مع حماية كل من الأم والأب من المشقة المفرطة.
The Ruling on Breastfeeding | حكم الرضاعة
1. The Married Mother
Scholars have different opinions about this matter: the most likely one is that if the mother is still married then she is obliged to nurse her child.
1. الأم المتزوجة
في المسألة خلاف بين أهل العلم، الأقرب أن يقال إن المرأة إن كانت زوجة لزمها إرضاع صغيرها.
2. The Divorced Mother
However, if she is divorced, then there is no obligation for her to do so, unless the child is harmed by that, then she should nurse him.
2. الأم المطلقة
وإن كانت مطلقة لم يلزمها ذلك ما لم يتضرر الطفل.
3. The Quranic Guidance
(Divorced mothers will breastfeed their offspring for two whole years, for those who wish to complete the nursing of their child. The child’s father will provide reasonable maintenance and clothing for the mother during that period. No one will be charged with more than they can bear. No mother or father should be made to suffer for their child. The father’s heirs are under the same obligation. But if both sides decide after mutual consultation and consent to wean a child, then there is no blame on them. If you decide to have your children nursed by a wet nurse, it is permissible as long as you pay fairly. Be mindful of Allah, and know that Allah is All Seeing of what you do.) Al Baqara 2:233.
3. التوجيه القرآني
(وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَارَّ وَالِدَةٌ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَّهُ بِوَلَدِهِ ۚ وَعَلَى الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّا آتَيْتُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿٢٣٣﴾) البقرة 2: 233.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is a divorced mother required to nurse her child for free?
No. The father is financially responsible for the child. A divorced mother has the right to ask for a nursing wage from the father to cover her effort and sustenance.
Can the parents decide to stop breastfeeding before two years?
Yes. The Quran explicitly states that if both parents agree through mutual consultation and consent, they can wean the child early without committing any sin.
What if the baby refuses to drink milk from anyone except the mother?
In this specific case, to prevent harm or starvation to the baby, it becomes religiously obligatory for the mother to nurse the child, regardless of her marital status.