(233) “Mothers shall nurse their children for two complete years, for those who wish to complete the nursing period. The father must provide for them and clothe them honorably. No soul is burdened beyond its capacity. No mother shall be harmed because of her child, nor any father because of his child; and the heir bears the same responsibility. If the two parents mutually desire to wean the child, by mutual consent and consultation, there is no blame upon them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by others, there is no blame upon you, provided that you honorably pay what you agreed to give. Fear Allah, and know that Allah sees all that you do.”
This is a declarative statement carrying the force of a command, presenting the matter as an established practice that requires no command: mothers “shall nurse their children for two complete years.”
Since a year may refer either to a full year or to most of one, He said, “two complete years, for those who wish to complete the nursing period.” Once the nursing infant has completed two years, the nursing period is complete, and milk thereafter is like any other nourishment. Nursing after the age of two is therefore of no legal effect and establishes no marriage prohibition.
It is inferred from this text, together with the saying of Allah Most High, “His gestation and weaning amount to thirty months,” that the shortest possible term of pregnancy is six months and that a child can be born after such a term.
“The father must”—meaning the child’s father—“provide for them and clothe them honorably.” This applies whether the mother is still married to him or has been divorced. The father must provide her sustenance—that is, her maintenance—and clothing, which constitute her compensation for nursing.
This indicates that if she remains married to him, she is not entitled to any separate compensation beyond maintenance and clothing. Each case is determined according to the person’s circumstances. Thus He said, “No soul is burdened beyond its capacity.” A poor man is not required to provide at the level of a rich man, nor is someone who has nothing required to spend until he acquires the means.
“No mother shall be harmed because of her child, nor any father because of his child.” That is, it is unlawful for the mother to be harmed on account of her child, whether by being prevented from nursing him or by being denied the maintenance, clothing, or compensation due to her. Nor may the father be harmed because of his child, such as by the mother refusing to nurse the child in order to harm the father, demanding more than what is due, or inflicting some other form of harm.
The words “the father” literally mean “the one for whom the child was born,” indicating that the child belongs to his father, for the child was bestowed upon him and is part of what he has earned. The father may therefore take from the child’s wealth whether the child consents or not, unlike the mother.
“And the heir bears the same responsibility.” That is, if the father is absent and the child has no wealth, the child’s heir bears the same obligation as the father to provide the nursing mother with maintenance and clothing. This indicates that an affluent relative who stands to inherit is obligated to support impoverished relatives.
“If the two parents mutually desire to wean the child”—meaning before the completion of two years—“by mutual consent,” with both of them agreeing, “and consultation” between them as to whether it is in the child’s best interests, then, if it is beneficial and both consent, “there is no blame upon them” for weaning the child before two years. By implication, the verse indicates that if only one parent consents, or if weaning is not in the child’s best interests, it is not permissible to wean him.
“And if you wish to have your children nursed by others”—that is, to seek wet nurses for them other than their mothers, without intending harm—“there is no blame upon you, provided that you honorably pay what you agreed to give,” namely, to the wet nurses. “Allah sees all that you do,” and He will recompense you for it, whether good or evil.