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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Islamic attitude to breastfeeding

83 replies

PrettyCandles · 07/12/2009 17:14

One of the playground mums mentioned last week that her dd would be 2yo in the new year and she was not looking forward to having to wean her. When I said that she could continue bfing as long as she and the LO wanted, she said that she had to stop for religious reasons. I think she said it was an instruction in the Koran. But then the children came out of school and, as ever, the conversation was lost.

But what was she talking about? Is this something all practicing Muslims do? Does the Koran have somthing to say about bfing?

OP posts:

pinkmagic1 · 07/12/2009 17:20

I will ask my husband when he gets back from work. I am married into a Muslim family but am not Muslim myself. I do remember my mother in law say she didn't feed any of her large brood over the age of 2 though.

Tortington · 07/12/2009 17:20

Allah gave the required time period for breastfeeding. He said, ?The mothers shall give suckling to their children for two whole years.? (Al-Baqarah: 233)

Tortington · 07/12/2009 17:22

The Quranic verse is: "And the mothers may nurse their children for two whole years, if they wish to complete the period of nursing?And if both (parents) decide, by mutual consent and counsel, upon weaning the child, they will incur no sin (thereby); and if you decide to entrust your children to foster-mothers, you will incur no sin provided you ensure, in a fair manner, the safety of the child which you are handing over. But remain conscious of Allah, and know that Allah sees all that you do." (Al-Baqarah: 233).

aparenttly

RibenaBerry · 07/12/2009 17:24

Custardo - without wanting to sound dim, is that verse understood as actually prohibiting going beyond that (i.e. shall give suckling for two whole years and no more) or as a minimum (i.e. shall giving suckling for at least two whole years)?

It's really interesting. I didn't realise that Islam was so actively pro breastfeeding. I come from a Christian tradition and although there are lots of statements about mothers' milk etc in the bible, I am not aware of much that's literal rather than figurative (though happy to be put right). Always good to hear positive reinforcement for breastfeeding!

RibenaBerry · 07/12/2009 17:25

Sorry, cross post. The full verse suggests that you can continue if both parents agree doesn't it? It says you can wean if you both agree, implying you could also carry on?

Original poster

PrettyCandles · 07/12/2009 17:26

How interesting. I wonder whether breastfeeding rates are higher among Muslim women as a result of this verse.

OP posts:

ImSoNotTelling · 07/12/2009 17:26

Gosh how interesting. I had no idea (no reason I would have TBH).

squashimodo · 07/12/2009 17:29

It is recommended that the child be nursed until 2 in islam, most women do.You can continue if you choose. Also the mother is entitled to a 'wage' during the time of nursing.

squashimodo · 07/12/2009 17:30

from the father obviously

pinkmagic1 · 07/12/2009 17:30

My inlaws where very very insistent that I breastfeed. Not sure about other Muslim countries but where they are from it is almost unheard of not to breastfeed and bottle feeding is frowned upon.
I did try but failed miserably on both occasions and will always remember the look of sorrow on my DH's Grandmothers face, now sadly deceased, when she found out I was bottle feeding my DS!

RibenaBerry · 07/12/2009 17:31

Who's the wage from? The father?

How brilliantly feminist that all is. I wonder if any other religions have similar rules?

MaMight · 07/12/2009 17:31

I live in a muslim country. The breastfeeding facilities everywhere you go are excellent, and I have never been made to feel at all awkward feeding my 20 month old when out and about.

(Not answering the OP's question, just sharing on topic )

squashimodo · 07/12/2009 17:32

Breastfeeding is seen as very positive amongst muslims, is actively encouraged.

RibenaBerry · 07/12/2009 17:32

Sorry, cross post again .

I'm very impressed.

Although I suppose it can be a bad thing if it makes women feel guilty...

StealthPolarBear · 07/12/2009 17:36

so what are the rates, does anyone know?

StealthPolarBear · 07/12/2009 17:37

sorry, in muslim countries I mean, not for muslims in non-muslim countries

Original poster

PrettyCandles · 07/12/2009 17:40

I would imagine that the bfing rates for Muslims in Muslim countries would be quite high - bfing would be considered the norm, rather than ff. Are Muslim women who have grown up in the UK or USA, where ff is seen as the norm, more likely to bf and to bf for longer than non-Muslims?

That verse does seem to imply to me that 'the complete period of nursing' is two years, and that therefore nursing beyond 2y would be discouraged, whereas nursing until 2y would be encouraged.

OP posts:

Chaotica · 07/12/2009 17:41

Can't answer question directly, but I too found that breast-feeding facilities were great in Turkey (which is secular, but largely muslim) and the attitude of people was excellent too. I didn't know at the time that it was written into the koran.

ImSoNotTelling · 07/12/2009 17:42

How much is the wage?

I have quite a lot of back pay due to me

StealthPolarBear · 07/12/2009 17:43

Exactly, would love to have that confirmed.
Reading the Politics of Breastfeeding, and it's so annoying that in cultures where breastfeeding is normal, expected, done then virtually everyone does it with few problems (or is that the case??). And yet here it's seen as a feat that will work out if you're lucky but more than likely won't.

ImSoNotTelling · 07/12/2009 17:59

The thing that I find interesting, is that BF is so common and normal in countries where women cover their faces.

Just shows how different it is to here, where breasts are considered much more intimite that faces, and the covering up is the other way around!

reservejudgement · 07/12/2009 18:00

Ds1 1 year
ds2 1 year
ds3 2.5 years
ds4 1.5 years ( so far)
6 years!!
Wow, dh does owe me a lot in back pay!

StealthPolarBear · 07/12/2009 18:01

don't forget double pay on weekends

Georgimama · 07/12/2009 18:03

Apparently (so my straw poll of 1 Muslim woman said) you are "allowed" refuse your husband sex when BFing as well. I am aware most of us would not want to.

Georgimama · 07/12/2009 18:04

Gah, someone is going to get picky about my syntax there, aren't they? I clearly meant, during that 2 year nursing period, not just whilst baby is actually latched on.

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