Chapter on Maintenance and Child Custody

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

Concerning Allah Most High’s words:

“Mothers shall breastfeed their children for two full years, for those who wish to complete the nursing period. The father must provide them with food and clothing according to what is reasonable. No soul is burdened beyond its capacity,”

through to His words:

“And know that Allah sees all that you do,”

together with His words:

“And if they are pregnant, maintain them until they give birth. Then, if they breastfeed for you, give them their payment,”

through to His words:

“Allah will bring ease after hardship.”

These passages contain various rulings, some agreed upon and others disputed. If you reflect on Allah’s Book, it becomes clear that it settles disputes among those who know how to refer matters to it. Whoever fails to find guidance in this does so either because of an inability, for which he is excused, or because of negligence, for which he is blameworthy.

Allah Most High’s words, “Two full years, for those who wish to complete the nursing period,” indicate that this constitutes the complete nursing period, and that nursing beyond it is simply one form of nourishment. This is cited as evidence by those who hold that breastfeeding after two years is like breastfeeding an adult.

His words, “Two full years,” indicate that the expression “two years” can refer to one year and part of another. Such usage is well known in Arabic speech. It is said, “So-and-so is twenty years old,” when he has completed that span.

Al-Farrā’, al-Zajjāj and others said: “Since one may say ‘two years’ while meaning less than two—as Allah Most High says, ‘Whoever hastens to leave in two days,’ and it is known that he hastens to leave