Excerpt from the book "Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq" by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
Permissibility of Breastfeeding by a Woman Other Than the Mother
﴿وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ﴾
“And if you wish to have your children breastfed by another woman, there is no sin upon you.”
Surah al-Baqarah (2:233)
✔ This verse clearly establishes the Sharʿī permissibility of delegating breastfeeding to another woman besides the mother, when necessary or preferred.
✔ There is no blame or sin in doing so, provided:
❖ Topic:
Permissibility of Breastfeeding by a Woman Other Than the Mother
✿ Quranic Verse:
﴿وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ﴾
“And if you wish to have your children breastfed by another woman, there is no sin upon you.”
Surah al-Baqarah (2:233)
Key Guidance:
✔ This verse clearly establishes the Sharʿī permissibility of delegating breastfeeding to another woman besides the mother, when necessary or preferred.
✔ There is no blame or sin in doing so, provided:
- The child is properly cared for,
- Rights and responsibilities are maintained,
- The woman who breastfeeds is halal for such a role (i.e., not leading to unlawful mixing or harm).
❖ Practical Applications:
- In cases of medical need, maternal unavailability, or insufficient milk, it is permissible and encouraged to find a suitable wet-nurse.
- This verse also forms the basis of rulings related to milk kinship (raḍāʿah) in Islamic jurisprudence.
