Until When Can the Last Child Be Breastfed? Sharʿī Explanation
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 315
❓ Question:
If a husband and wife are certain that this is their last child, until when can the child be breastfed? In other words, what is the duration of breastfeeding according to Sharīʿah?
✅ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Allah ﷻ says in the Qurʾān:
﴿وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ﴾
(al-Baqarah: 233)
“Mothers shall breastfeed their children for two complete years, for those who wish to complete the nursing period.”
And in another verse:
﴿وَفِصَالُهُ فِيْ عَامَيْنِ﴾
(Luqmān: 14)
“And his weaning is in two years.”
📖 Ruling Applies Equally to All Children:
The Qurʾānic ruling applies equally to the first, middle, and last child. The duration of breastfeeding mentioned in the Qurʾān is the same for every child, whether firstborn or last.
✔ Early Weaning Is Permissible:
If both parents, with mutual agreement and consultation, decide to wean the child before two years, it is permissible. Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٖ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٖ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَاۗ﴾
(al-Baqarah: 233)
“If both desire weaning, by mutual consent and consultation, there is no sin upon them.”
✔ Feeding Through Another Woman Is Also Allowed:
If the mother is unable to breastfeed, it is permissible to hire another woman (murḍiʿah) to breastfeed the child, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ﴾
(al-Baqarah: 233)
“And if you wish to have your children breastfed by another woman…”
🔑 Conclusion:
The breastfeeding duration for the last child is the same as prescribed in the Qurʾān: two years.
- With mutual agreement of the parents, weaning before two years is permissible.
- It is also permissible to employ another woman for breastfeeding if needed.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
