When one talks about breastfeeding in Islam, Ar-Radâ’ah, it includes discussing issues such as the milk produced by a woman, al-laban, the role and status of the person who feeds, the right of an infant to be breastfed, a mother’s rights to- and a father’s duty in the process of breastfeeding, and the social impact of breastfeeding. Throughout the history of mankind milk and blood are considered substances that have shaped society. We ascribe tremendous influence to both substances: while blood creates brotherhood, milk establishes kinship ties.
Mother’s milk is the staple food and drink for any newborn. Practically no other food stuffs or fluids are more suitable for a baby’s consumption, its survival, and its growth. Breastfeeding is sometimes seen as a noble act, although exclusively reserved for women, as they are the ones who can naturally produce and provide it. However, it is a mistaken common perception that only women are involved in and responsible for this process, as if men, particularly in their role as fathers, do not share in the responsibilities of breastfeeding, supporting the necessary conditions for women to breastfeed. Even though men are equally involved, a variety of excuses, ranging from concepts related to nature, fate, destiny, humanity, or a mother’s duty is sometimes used to prove the contrary.
Concepts on breastfeeding, al-radâ’ah are clearly expressed in the Qur’ân and several hadîth. Yet similar to other verses in the Holy Scripture these texts are still broadly open for (re-) interpretation, although in fiqh, usually understood as practical Islamic jurisprudence (al-amaliy) the various views on breastfeeding are captured most clearly. Most of the various madhhab fiqh discuss the issue of breastfeeding under the heading of nikâh, marriage.
Discussions in fiqh often focus on two issues. In the first place the social consequences of breastfeeding, which result in the establishment of kinship relations (mahram) and which place restrictions on one’s marriage partner. Secondly disputes on the financial compensation for breastfeeding, often not by a child’s biological mother but a foster-mother. However, even though some texts address breastfeeding as seen from a child’s right, haqq al-radî’, the issue of health care for breastfeeding women (mothers), haqq al-murdhi’ah is rarely mentioned, to the point of neglect.
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This is an excerpt from Marzuki Wahid 2007 "Al-Radâ’ah: Breastfeeding", in KH. Husein Muhammad, Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir, Lies Marcoes Natsir and Marzuki Wahid, Dawrah Fiqh Concerning Women - Manual For A Course on Islam and Gender, Fahmina Institute, Cirebon, 2007.
