سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 233
۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿233﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father’s) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis. And fear Allâh and know that Allâh is All-Seer of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ
wal-wālidātu
And the mothers
يُرْضِعْنَ
yur'ḍiʿ'na
shall suckle
أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ
awlādahunna
their children
حَوْلَيْنِ
ḥawlayni
(for) two years
كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ
kāmilayni
complete
لِمَنْ
liman
for whoever
أَرَادَ
arāda
wishes
أَن
an
to
يُتِمَّ
yutimma
complete
ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ
l-raḍāʿata
the suckling
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
And upon
ٱلْمَوْلُودِ
l-mawlūdi
the father
لَهُۥ
lahu
(on) him
رِزْقُهُنَّ
riz'quhunna
(is) their provision
وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ
wakis'watuhunna
and their clothing
بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ
bil-maʿrūfi
in a fair manner
لَا
lā
Not
تُكَلَّفُ
tukallafu
is burdened
نَفْسٌ
nafsun
any soul
إِلَّا
illā
except
وُسْعَهَا ۚ
wus'ʿahā
its capacity
لَا
lā
Not
تُضَآرَّ
tuḍārra
made to suffer
وَٰلِدَةٌۢ
wālidatun
(the) mother
بِوَلَدِهَا
biwaladihā
because of her child
وَلَا
walā
and not
مَوْلُودٌۭ
mawlūdun
(the) father
لَّهُۥ
lahu
(be)
بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ
biwaladihi
because of his child
وَعَلَى
waʿalā
And on
ٱلْوَارِثِ
l-wārithi
the (father's) heir
مِثْلُ
mith'lu
(is a duty) like
ذَٰلِكَ ۗ
dhālika
that (of the father)
فَإِنْ
fa-in
Then if
أَرَادَا
arādā
they both desire
فِصَالًا
fiṣālan
weaning
عَن
ʿan
through
تَرَاضٍۢ
tarāḍin
mutual consent
مِّنْهُمَا
min'humā
of both of them
وَتَشَاوُرٍۢ
watashāwurin
and consultation
فَلَا
falā
then no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
blame
عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ
ʿalayhimā
on both of them
وَإِنْ
wa-in
And if
أَرَدتُّمْ
aradttum
you want
أَن
an
to
تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟
tastarḍiʿū
ask another women to suckle
أَوْلَـٰدَكُمْ
awlādakum
your child
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
blame
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
on you
إِذَا
idhā
when
سَلَّمْتُم
sallamtum
you pay
مَّآ
mā
what
ءَاتَيْتُم
ātaytum
you give
بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ
bil-maʿrūfi
in a fair manner
وَٱتَّقُوا۟
wa-ittaqū
And fear
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
wa-iʿ'lamū
and know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
بَصِيرٌۭ
baṣīrun
(is) All-Seer
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
233. 1. In this verse, the issue of breastfeeding is discussed. The first point is that whoever wishes to complete the period of breastfeeding should nurse for a full two years. These words also allow for a shorter period of breastfeeding. The second point is that the maximum period of breastfeeding is two years, as narrated in Tirmidhi from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) in a marfu' (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ) narration.
233. 2. In the case of divorce, the issue of the maintenance of the infant and his mother becomes very complicated in our society, and the reason for this is deviation from the Shariah. If, according to the command of Allah, the husband is responsible for the woman's food and clothing according to his means, as stated in this verse, then the issue is resolved very easily.
233. 3. To cause harm to the mother means, for example, if the mother wants to keep the child with her, but ignoring the maternal instinct, the child is forcibly taken away from her, or she is forced to breastfeed without being provided for. To cause harm to the father means that the mother refuses to breastfeed or demands more financial compensation than he can afford.
233. 4. In the case of the father's death, this responsibility falls upon the heirs, that they fulfill the rights of the child's mother properly, so that neither the woman is harmed nor the upbringing and care of the child is affected.
233. 5. This is permission to have the child nursed by a woman other than the mother, provided that her compensation is paid according to custom.
233. 2. In the case of divorce, the issue of the maintenance of the infant and his mother becomes very complicated in our society, and the reason for this is deviation from the Shariah. If, according to the command of Allah, the husband is responsible for the woman's food and clothing according to his means, as stated in this verse, then the issue is resolved very easily.
233. 3. To cause harm to the mother means, for example, if the mother wants to keep the child with her, but ignoring the maternal instinct, the child is forcibly taken away from her, or she is forced to breastfeed without being provided for. To cause harm to the father means that the mother refuses to breastfeed or demands more financial compensation than he can afford.
233. 4. In the case of the father's death, this responsibility falls upon the heirs, that they fulfill the rights of the child's mother properly, so that neither the woman is harmed nor the upbringing and care of the child is affected.
233. 5. This is permission to have the child nursed by a woman other than the mother, provided that her compensation is paid according to custom.
