Until When Can the Last Child Be Breastfed? Sharʿī Explanation
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 315
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?
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.”
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.
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.”
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…”
The breastfeeding duration for the last child is the same as prescribed in the Qurʾān: two years.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
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
