of the prophets, and upon his family and Companions.

To proceed:

The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, an organ of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, at its second session held in Jeddah from 10–16 Rabīʿ al-Thānī 1406 AH / 22–28 December 1985 CE,

having examined a juristic study and a medical study on milk banks, and—after reflecting on the findings of both papers and engaging in an extensive discussion that covered every aspect of the subject—has reached the following conclusions:

1 – Milk banks were an experiment undertaken by Western nations; practical experience has revealed a number of technical and scientific drawbacks, so the project has contracted and interest in it has waned.

2 – Islam regards nursing (ridāʿ) as a kinship bond equivalent to blood relations: whatever is forbidden through lineage is likewise forbidden through nursing, by the consensus of the Muslims. One of the overarching objectives of the Sharīʿah is the preservation of lineage, and milk banks lead to confusion or suspicion in this regard.

3 – The social networks within the Muslim world already provide, for a premature infant, a low-birth-weight baby, or a child who, in special circumstances, needs human milk, the natural wet-nursing required, making milk banks unnecessary.

Accordingly, the Academy resolved:

First: It is forbidden to establish mothers’ milk banks in the Muslim world.

Second: Nursing from such banks is unlawful. And Allah knows best.