The Duration of Breastfeeding and the Ruling on Exceeding Two Years
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Question:
The listener, Sulayman ibn Ibrahim al-Wakil, from the Sudair region, sent a question saying: Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah:233] the verse. Is this specific to the divorced woman, or is it general? And what is the ruling for one who breastfeeds her child for more than two years?
Answer:
This is general; the verse is general, applying to the child whose mother has been divorced and to the child whose mother has not been divorced. The verse is general. The duration is two years. Allah the Exalted said: [al-Ahqaf:15]. Weaning: the duration of breastfeeding is twenty-four months, and the duration of pregnancy is six months; this is the minimum duration of pregnancy. Allah the Exalted said: [Luqman:14]. This indicates that breastfeeding is two years for the divorced woman and for the non-divorced woman alike. This is if the parents wish. As for if they agree to wean the child before the two years, there is no harm in that, so that he may be given the milk of animals; due to His saying, the Exalted: [al-Baqarah:233]. Weaning: weaning, [al-Baqarah:233] meaning: weaning [al-Baqarah:233].
So if the parents, meaning the spouses, agree to wean him at one year, or one year and some months, or less, or more, for reasons that necessitate that, there is no harm. If they do not agree, then he is breastfed for two years, and it is not increased beyond the two years except in need. If there is a claim of need for the increase, there is no harm, such as if he does not desire food. There is no harm in increasing it beyond the two years until he desires food and until he is nourished by food, and there is no blame in that. Yes.
The listener, Sulayman ibn Ibrahim al-Wakil, from the Sudair region, sent a question saying: Allah the Exalted said:
Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period].
وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَAnswer:
This is general; the verse is general, applying to the child whose mother has been divorced and to the child whose mother has not been divorced. The verse is general. The duration is two years. Allah the Exalted said:
and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months
وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلاثُونَ شَهْرًاand his weaning is in two years
وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِAnd if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them.
فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَاAnd if they both desire weaning
فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًاthrough mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them
عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَاSo if the parents, meaning the spouses, agree to wean him at one year, or one year and some months, or less, or more, for reasons that necessitate that, there is no harm. If they do not agree, then he is breastfed for two years, and it is not increased beyond the two years except in need. If there is a claim of need for the increase, there is no harm, such as if he does not desire food. There is no harm in increasing it beyond the two years until he desires food and until he is nourished by food, and there is no blame in that. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.